Onion crop down

The British Onion Producers Association has reported that the 2005 UK acreage was similar to 2002, but circa 15% down on 2004, with a total estimated tonnage of 376,000 tonnes. This is some 90,000 tonnes short on last year, but still significantly higher than the 2003 crop.

Overall, the synopsis is that there is sufficient good quality UK crop to satisfy demand for a full length UK season. This, however, should not mislead anyone into thinking that the season is going to be easy; with extremely variable conditions at harvest, it is reasonable to suggest that some crops went in particularly well and others particularly badly. It is only now as stores complete the curing phase that growers are beginning to identify, in some specific crops, potential quality and storage problems directly related to the periods of rain at harvest.

The challenge for UK growers is therefore to ensure consistent quality is produced throughout the year. With superior storage facilities in UK, the opportunity remains of competing with imports on quality, service and price and looking to replace Spanish and Chilean onions (which are no longer considered as mild) with a large, well-shaped brown onion - an area where UK supermarkets have continued to support British onions and consumers have continued to increase purchases.