Plantings are now finished; this year's season is in stark contrast to last year, where plantings were significantly delayed. Crops are looking good despite dry conditions. Recent weather has affected the consumption of potato and vegetable lines as naturally, consumers switched to salad options, with the sale of larger pack sizes seeing the biggest response.
Some growers in the southeast will start lifting home guards this week. Early queens are reported to be coming on well, and some should be fit to dig in the next 3 weeks.
On the European market, export markets have cooled off significantly now that buyers have access to the new crop from Egypt. In the U.K., moisture rates are increasing rapidly. In the east, soils are now very dry, with some growers reporting only 16 to 20mm of rain since early February.
Some later-planted crops on heavier land are very slow to emerge due to a lack of moisture. In terms of the market, most movement has been contract-based.
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