As the new UK shallot season gets underway, growers have predicted further growth in the market as consumer demand continues to soar.
The UK shallot market has grown by 46 per cent in value terms over the last five years to some £8.6m (€9.9m), while volumes sold have risen by 27 per cent.
Such growth is thought to be fuelled by a surge in the popularity of home-cooking, as well as the support that shallots have received from celebrity chefs.
The season is forecast to be delayed by up to 10 days due to extremes in UK weather conditions, including low temperatures and high rainfall in February, and an especially dry spring, demanding extensive irrigation to achieve yields.
However, UK shallot growers are expected to fare better than their European counterparts owing to far from ideal weather conditions in Holland and France, two countries that dominate the market.
French production is anticipated to be 27 per cent down, while Dutch volumes are forecast to fall by some 20 per cent.
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