The lines that are most affected are peaches and nectarines. A huge shortfall in the European crop and the Italian crop in particular means that demand and prices are so keen on domestic markets that it is hard for northern European buyers and importers to get a look in.

Despite warnings published in the Journal and other sources, the trade has in many cases been caught out. 'People knew product was going to be short, but they didn't realise how short,' said John Grieve of importer Lisons. 'It is a case of crying wolf: every year we hear stories of shortage and in years gone by this has been used as a vehicle to push prices up. But not this year, there really is a shortage.' One importer for the wholesale markets reported urgent calls from supermarkets this week desperate for whatever good quality peaches were available. But with Italian product commanding around 1000p a box in Italy for 26s-28s, the UK is finding it hard to compete.

As the Journal went to press, Grieve was expecting half a truck of peaches and nectarines which were 'selling like hot cakes' with trade complete by 9.30am.

And wholesale market prices this week spoke for themselves with Tuesday showing highs of 900p a carton for Spanish cherries and 1100p for melons. Prices were less dramatic on London markets, however and apricots from Spain made 350-400p on New Covent Garden, for example.

But not everyone agrees that the currency differential is causing the main problems on the UK marketplace. 'Yes, the euro has had an impact on price but what is really driving prices upwards is availability and making sure we have product for our customers, said Redbridge Produce & Flowers director Graeme Hinchley. 'We live with price volatility every day,' but he reports tightening in supply from Italy and Spain on plums, peaches, nectarines and cherries.' According to Sid Haselton of import and wholesale group C&C, the currency differential is also secondary. 'Looking at the euro-sterling situation over the last 12 months, it has not varied that much,' he said. 'If a Frenchman is selling to me and a German, he might ask me for 10-15p more on an item that was originally 400p, but it has little effect really.' But the UK market should be warned that supplies may be tight in future too as producers of early stone fruit varieties are becoming disillusioned. 'Producers in Spain, Italy and even France have been losing money over the years on early varieties so they are just not growing them any more,' said Haselton.

Grieve agreed: 'Over the last two to three years, a lot of growers have been abandoning early peach production in Spain and this year we are seeing the effects of that combined with the effects of climate and the euro exchange rate situation.' But with the season just beginning and rain sweeping much of the UK as this week has worn on, the immediate future is equally uncertain. The natural phenomenon known as June drop could yet affect stone fruit lines causing fruit to fall from trees and remaining samples to bulk up considerably size-wise. And if the weather in market destinations continues to dampen demand, then the problems of availability will seem much less severe.

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