The supply of Asian vegetables is in transition right now. "The supply is similar to last year and we are transitioning from Mexican supply to the U.S. and local supply," says Samantha Chan of Van-Whole Produce based in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. "We already have some local supply available and expect to see more varieties become available in the coming weeks as the new local season rolls out."
The timing of the supply transition is similar to historical timing. Supply will stay local until October, depending on the weather.
When it comes to demand, the season helps dictate it, says Chan. "Demand for Asian vegetables is year round because there are so many varieties and they are being consumed daily, like cauliflower or broccoli are," she says. "It might just be that some varieties might have more demand in the winter, such as Watercress or Tong Ho, which are popular ingredients for dishes such as Hot Pot. Otherwise, demand is pretty steady throughout the year."
Summer demand
She notes that some vegetables, such as Ong Choy or water spinach, increase in popularity with B.C. customers in the summer and are softer in pricing compared to the rest of the year when imported from regions such as Thailand or the U.S.
As for pricing, it looks steady. "The food costs are much higher than in the past few years but I don't think the increase will be huge," says Chan. "I think the price will be pretty similar to last year."
For more information:
Samantha Chan
Van-Whole Produce
Tel: +1 (604) 251-3330
[email protected]
https://www.vanwhole-produce.com/