Quality of the new season crop is said to be good, despite unseasonable searing temperatures of up to 45°C that lasted until last week.

'There are high hopes for this season,' said José Hernandez of Fortuna Frutos, 'because producers have been grafting a lot of new varieties and growing new types more resistant to viruses.

'Although the weather has been very warm in the islands for the last month, fruit quality is very good. I'm very happy with what I have seen so far.' He added that temperatures have now started to drop, which will help the crop.

'Overall, it should be a better season than last year. Our volumes are perhaps not as high because growers have concentrated on producing these new varieties, such as the round Boludo, Dorothy and Timpany tomatoes.' Hernandez explained that the Canaries faces stiff competition from mainland Spain and Morocco.

'Price values will be dictated by how much volume there is on the UK market from these two countries. It is too early to tell how it will be.'

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