|
|
What is Organic Centre Wales (OCW)? OCW is the national resource for consumers, farmers and policy makers committed to more sustainable food and farming in Wales. Set up in 2000, it delivers projects to support and develop the organic sector. About the Centre.
|
 Monthly updates on the fruit and veg market ArchiveMarch 2012Ben Pratt writes:Lots of light and warmer days have meant growth has really shot on in the tunnels. Unfortunately, when we have gluts, so does everyone else! Winter cabbages are starting to look a little tired now but are being nicely replaced with the arrival of local spring greens from under cover. Still an abundance of purple sprouting broccoli - we're enjoying perhaps the best year we've seen and spring leeks are coming through. Caulis seem to be everywhere and the market a little sluggish for them. We're coming to the end of local carrots now and stores of UK onions are starting to run very low! The hungry gap is looming... Current prices March 2012 (ex-farm)
www.organicfreshfoodcompany.co.uk February 2012Ben Pratt writes:A month of changing weather has been both a blessing and a bit of a challenge for us in Lampeter. Growth in the tunnels seems to be storming ahead. Over-wintered lettuces have survived and we should be looking at having local lettuce by the end of March. It seems all the harder to believe when two weeks ago, crops in the field sat frozen for days on end. Looking forward though, this week should see the first seed potato going in by our growers in Pembrokeshire. The wet ground is holding them up a little but hopefully by the end of the week things should be well under way. In November we talked about how 'local' was the new organic and this still seems very much the case. The greatest opportunities for growers seem to be supplying Welsh produce to Welsh customers. Fingers-crossed the weather will co-operate! Current prices February 2012 (ex-farm)
www.organicfreshfoodcompany.co.uk Market update from Suzanne Rees, Organic Fresh Food Company - December 2011At last the world looks like it is beginning to eat again!!! Sales are finally going up and we all wait with bated breath for the Christmas rush, will they, won't they order sprouts, the perennial Christmas dilemma!!! As we move towards the shortest day thoughts turn to the year that's just finished. It's certainly been a difficult one for growers and wholesalers alike. In some ways the growing season appeared to be getting off to a good start with such fantastic cultivation conditions but then there were the constantly cold nights which held crops back and the lack of rain. Brassicas loved the year but squash hated it. Carrots grew well and potatoes bulked fast with little blight around. Sales were very flat throughout the summer with prices on the floor and many growers are looking at the future with some concern, so it was good recently to go to a talk by Castell Howell and Broughtons who are certainly waving the flag for Wales - now all we need is to convince them to pay the price!! Happy Christmas and may we all look forward to a peaceful and prosperous year ahead. Current prices December 2011 (ex-farm)  www.organicfreshfoodcompany.co.uk Opportunities for organic growers to supply SPAR stores in North Wales Horticulture Wales held a meeting on 13th December between growers and Conrad Davies, who manages SPAR stores in Pwllheli, Dolgellau and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Conrad is 2011/2012 True Taste Ambassador and has a strong local sourcing policy which has been recognised by numerous awards. The meeting was positive and Conrad thought he would be able to pay wholesale prices for organic produce, provided it was of good quality. Logistics are likely to be the biggest challenge, but the meeting identified opportunities to work with other food companies in the area. Given the current need for organic growers to find new markets we feel this is an excellent opportunity for growers. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Jane Morgan (Horticulture Wales) on 01978 293972 The organic fruit and vegetable market in WalesMarket update from Suzanne Rees, Organic Fresh Food Company - November 2011This extraordinary weather continues. Still on the borders they have not had enough rain and the crops are struggling, whereas nearer home the mild weather is bulking up crops very fast with brassicas coming forward at an alarming pace. Also the slugs are still multiplying at an alarming rate and getting stuck into sprouts. End of November and there are still tomatoes coming out of the tunnels!! This week will be the end of them, but what an incredibly long season it has been. Thoughts for all growers are now turning to next year and what to grow. It's been difficult for all of this year with such a poor summer in the market place which is only now beginning to pick itself back up. There is no question that local is the 'New' organic and this is the route we all need to focus on. Talking to some of the large distributors they say that there is already a small premium for Welsh products so hopefully all is not a complete disaster. Whilst the crops could do with a bit of cold weather, let's all enjoy this lovely sunshine while it lasts. Current prices November 2011 (ex-farm)  www.organicfreshfoodcompany.co.uk The organic fruit and vegetable market in WalesMarket update from Suzanne Rees, Organic Fresh Food Company - October 2011Autumn and harvest festivals are here but there's some very mixed weather out there affecting crops dramatically. Here in Wales we have had enough rain to keep the crops moving forward and enough heat to mean that all the brassicas are now ready at the same time!!!! Feast now and famine in January! Fortunately there are signs that business is beginning to slowly pick itself up again after the summer collapse. On the borders they still haven't had enough rain and the intense heat is destroying shelf life on many of the brassicas. Broccoli is turning within hours of being picked even when it has been iced. Because there is still a lot of heat in the ground growers are worrying about lifting root crops into store, but then there are rumours of snow round the corner, so what to do! Crops, particularly swede, are showing signs of boron deficiency and growers are attributing this to the strange season we have just come through Salad crops, both in the tunnels and outside are coming to an end and growers are busy planting up ready for Christmas. Potato prices have fallen to about £5.00 a bag but have now steadied as demand starts to pick up. Cabbages are bold and beautiful – some growers reporting sizes up to 4kg each on Savoy's!! Late beans are hitting a very strong market but their days are numbered as we hunker down for a winter of roots and brassicas - bring on those hearty stews!! In spite of all the doom and gloom around in the marketplace, here we are starting to see the beginnings of a recovery which I hope is being mirrored across the sector. Everyone still has to eat so let's give them good tasting, fairly priced wonderful organic food - they'll be back for more! www.organicfreshfoodcompany.co.uk  Providing information on organic food and farming in Wales
|