According to Markus Bobenhausen, senior buying director at REWE Group, unpredictable weather conditions will influence the procurement of fruit and vegetables in 2023. Bobenhausen added that lettuce, soft fruit, peppers and tomatoes are currently affected in the Mediterranean region. While these are just some recent examples, he cautioned that more varieties will be added in the course of spring, because the weather in Germany is also causing quality losses for some types of vegetables, such as onions.
Citing tangerine harvest in 2022 as an example, Bobenhausen said the warm autumn in Spain meant that the fruit was unstable in terms of shelf life. At the same time, it was still too warm in Germany.
Bobenhausen believes logistics will be a key driver in fixing the problem. He recommends that, if necessary, truck travel times can be shortened by using two drivers. He warned that it is becoming more and more challenging to control the delivery process.
Source: esmmagazine.com