“We are hoping to get a decision with regard to the derogation for nitrates in winter lettuce at next week’s meeting,” explained Graham Ward, an executive consultant to Yorkshire-based producer Snaith Salads and chairman of the National Farmers’ Union board for horticulture. “I think that at last we have achieved an understanding that there is nothing we can do about nitrate production which is simply down to the weather.” Nitrates are produced naturally in the growing process by lettuce and levels may vary according to seasonal production conditions.
Lobbyists in the UK, including Ward, have been working extremely hard on the issue for at least six months. “We have had a lot of help from Michael Jack MP on this and we have also had a lot of meetings with the Food Standards Agency, so we are hopeful of a positive outcome next week,” said Ward.
A northern-European growers’ group has formed in order to strengthen the cause and counts Danish, Belgian, Dutch and northern French growers among its numbers.
Even if the growers’ efforts prove successful at next week’s meeting, it could set a precedent for other crops. For example, rocket usually contains higher nitrate levels than flat and curly lettuce. “Growers of that crop in Italy could find themselves the next target,” warned Ward.
Producers are also facing their second full winter without recourse to methyl bromide as a soil sterilant. “We have been working without methyl bromide now for 18 months and we have not had any disasters,” said Ward. ‘Some growers are using other soil sterilants and others are using Basamid - a methyl bromide alternative - distributed by Certis.”
As far as this season is concerned, protected winter lettuce growers have had good growing conditions in the summer and autumn and there have been no aphids or attacks of disease, says Ward. “The weather for glasshouse lettuce is reasonably warm and windy which allows for a buoyant atmosphere good for production,” he said.
IBERIAN FEAST
Geest works with growers in Spain to supply whole-head product to its prepared salads processing plants in the UK, France and Spain throughout the winter. The company sources from several sites, mainly in the Murcia region.
“About 85 per cent of our volumes come from around 10 growing operations,” explains business development manager David Barney. “These vary in size from very large organisations to very small operations which handle some of the smaller volume speciality lines.”
In all, Geest counts 40-50 different leaf types from Spain in its range for its prepared salads business. “We work with programmed volumes for our different customers,” said Barney. “We have a number of sites which service the different retailers: we take forecast numbers and turn them into raw material programmes.”
The product is grown almost entirely in open fields for both summer and winter production, although Geest does make use of protective structures for specific purposes. “For example, this might be at the shoulders of the season - at the beginning and end - or for the most sensitive products that we grow. Our product portfolio ranges all the way from iceberg down to speciality baby-leaf types.”
This season so far is progressing well, reports Barney. “We had a good start to the season with product on time and in order,” he said. “The first few weeks were fine, but recently there have been high levels of rainfall in the Murcia area - particularly last week and over the weekend - this could potentially give us a few headaches, particularly on the small volume, speciality types.” When there is a local weather problem, it can be a tricky issue for the small volume types as sourcing options are reduced.
“The main problems with the rainfall are that it could hinder travelling through the field and the ability to harvest,” explained Barney. “But more often, it is the quality of a product that can suffer as a result of wet weather: it can give us a weaker crop and a shorter shelf life with product less able to stand up to the bagging process.”
The issue of compliance with pesticides residue regulation is always at the forefront of any salads business. Geest feels that pressure in this area is easing off this season as hard work in previous years pays off. “We are in a stable position in terms of pesticides issues,” said Barney.
“Changes in Maximum Residue Levels as a result of EU review regulation 91414 means that crop-protection product suppliers have had to take some previously approved products out of their chemical portfolio, making it less of an issue this year.”
One of the major developments in terms of quality for winter leafy salads at Geest has been the evolution of its in-house quality assurance system. “We operate our own set of technical standards and work with growers to achieve what we think is a very high technical requirement,” said Barney. “Some of the key retailers have been pushing forward in this area over the past 18 months. We are very pleased that we have continued to place a great focus on this and co-operate with our grower base and move them forward. We feel that our own system really is ahead of the game.”
A PLAGUE ON ALL OUR NEGATIVE PRESS
Morocco has received negative press in recent weeks because of a plague of locusts which swarmed into the north African country last month, but effects to produce have been minimal.
“Tomatoes have not been affected at all,” said Kacem Bennani-Smires of exporter Delassus. What is disrupting sendings though is the fact that some producers have planted fewer vines than last year. “Last season was a terrible year so people did not plant so much,” said Bennani-Smires. “There was also a heatwave in August which destroyed some of the early production and people had to replant which has disrupted sendings.”
Morocco exports mainly to the French market and Bennani-Smires reports that volumes might be a little down, but supply will also depend on the markets themselves. “What we must make absolutely clear is that locusts have not even touched tomato production,” he said.
“Although tomatoes are grown in the Agadir region, the wind has not blown in the right direction to bring them near the fields and in any case they are under protective plastic structures. The government is also keeping the situation very well controlled and even has a dedicated website so people can keep up-to-date.”
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