Retail markets remain stable and some more restaurants appear to have opened on a take-out basis last week as the weather improved. Early plantings continue to progress. There are continued reports of high tare levels mainly attributed to the precarious growing conditions last year. It is expected that stocks of top-quality packing material will tighten as we continue into the season. Once again growers are reminded to analyse their planting strategies in line with how the market will adapt as the economy re-opens.
In the U.K. demand is still lacklustre, but with the pace of the vaccination rollout, there is some optimism that trade should start to pick up again. Plantings begin to progress this week and are starting to catch up with the program but on average “still two weeks behind”.
Across Europe, movement in the fresh sector is steady to good and keeping up with contracts, but the lack of export demand is very apparent and making it difficult to clear free buy. Planting of the early processing crop has started in the Netherlands and there are reports from Spain that their season is early this year.
| Low | High | Average | |
| Rooster box | €320 | €380 | €350 |
| Rooster 10 kg | €3.30 | €3.80 | €3.50 |
| Whites Box | €300 | €350 | €320 |
| Kerr Pinks | €4.50 | €5.00 | €4.80 |
| Golden Wonder | €4.80 | €5.50 | €5.20 |
