The UK import of US cranberries is already into week three, the crop is looking good, as is the quality on arrival at Fruit World International.
"The harvest period was normal, if a little warmer than usual, so we had to wait longer for the colour," explains Jon Clark, Managing Director at Fruit World International. "There are some challenges with shipping due to the port strikes in the US and Canada, but we are solution focussed to deliver the right fruit on time, so we are having to either transport to different ports via road or rail. This takes longer and costs more but is less risk in the end."
Cranberries were traditionally a Christmas berry, but this no longer the case. US expats want them for Thanksgiving and people just like to eat them in general as the health benefits are becoming more well known. They are best known for use in sauces but more and more people are eating them fresh as well as being used in drinks and for decoration.
"We expect to import 20-25% more than last year," said Jon. "The demand was there last year, but some retailers were perhaps a bit nervous about importing too much and they ended up short. This year they have readjusted this."
Fruit World International represents the US's biggest fresh grower Habelman and also L&S Orchards in Canada, who both grow to supply 100% fresh cranberries. Fruit World International supply mainly retail, wholesale and food service.
"At the moment we supply as the new crop becomes available from October and continue up until Christmas Eve, but given the demand and the quality of the berries there is the potential to go through to February. There is also the fact that people who are buying in October and November are not buying for Christmas, so shouldn't the product be available to them for longer?"
Jon is looking forward to a good season and said that luckily for the moment there are no reactionary "Trump tariffs" to consider, but it is possible that is something they have to contend with next season.
For more information:
Jon Clark
Fruit World International
Tel: +44 (0) 7525 668880
[email protected]
www.fruitworld.co.uk