Finding cauliflower has become a challenge this winter. Drought and rising costs have led to a reduction of the acreage in Spain, and just like in other European producing areas, adverse weather conditions have also caused production losses. The demand is far outstripping the supply in Europe and prices are reaching unprecedented levels.
"Cauliflower has become an almost luxury product, due to its very high prices and limited availability," says the commercial director of a producer and exporter from Murcia. "Normally, when marketers have to deal with broccoli shortages, there is always the option of making some purchases on the free market, but that is proving even more challenging this year than it usually already is."
According to the trader, water shortages are a determining factor: "It hasn't rained in Murcia for many months and increasingly more restrictions on the use of irrigation water are being implemented in the main growing areas. Moreover, the dry and excessively warm weather recorded during the planting has led to the collapse of some plantations and, generally, to lower yields due to the deterioration of the plants. There are more lots with yellowish pellets, which are unwanted by the market."
"This, together with the fact that production costs have increased significantly in recent years, has led to much less cauliflower being planted. We have learned about this first-hand from seed houses, which are reporting a significant drop in brassica seed sales heading into this season. Many independent growers have switched from brassicas to lettuce for profitability reasons, as these require less water and, with lower costs, they also obtain higher yields," he says.
Therefore, there is a great shortage of cauliflower in Europe, as there is also a limited supply in Brittany. "The storms in Brittany have had a devastating impact on the yields. We have seen sky-high prices of 30 Euro per box of caliber 6 cauliflowers. Due to the lack of water in the producing areas of the Guadalquivir basin in Seville, plantings were quite delayed and are just starting now. The situation may improve at certain times, but this trend of low supply and high prices is expected to continue throughout the season," says the exporter.
"Cauliflower has become a crop for specialists," he says. "Securing a continuous supply of quality, white cauliflower is not easy and good prices are paid."