The plum market is in delicate balance as several weeks of shortage are about to end with a dramatic surge of product expected next week.
“The market has been quite tight,” said John Hopkins of Capespan. “And I expect it will take a big dive next week when unprecedented volume comes on stream.”
Hopkins attributes the yo-yo pattern of availability to unseasonably high temperatures in South Africa.
“The heat has meant that fruit is coming on stream in a big spike,” he said. “Prices are likely to be competitive for the next two to three weeks and then they will go stronger again.”
Prices per carton are falling from 600p for AA sizes of red fruit to 400p as more fruit is now on the water. Yellow plums are running at 50-100p higher a tray.
The situation is also affected by volumes from Argentina and Chile which have had lower crop volumes than last season. “There are some larger Chilean arrivals next week, so things should ease as we get into March,” said Mark Kidd of Richard Hochfeld.
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