Fresh Plaza: Lime market under pressure due to good supply but less demand
The lime market in the UK and indeed Europe is under pressure as volumes arrive from both Mexico and Brazil.
“At this time of year we would normally see high prices and high demand with bars and restaurants full and warm weather meaning more limes used for cocktails, but the lockdown has changed this,” explained Daniela Ivanova from Rush Exotics.
“We saw a spike in demand a few weeks ago (as we did in other products) while supermarkets couldn’t cope with the influx of shoppers lining up for hours outside at the start of lockdown, all shelves were empty. Now they seem to have got their act together which has led to a reduction in the home delivery veg boxes as people go back to the retailers.”
The weather plays a big part in demand for limes and while people are indoors with it rainy or cloudy - they are not out in the garden drinking cocktails and having BBQ’s.
“A couple of weeks ago the price was sky-high at around £10-12, that was when there wasn’t a lot of limes around, there were only a few containers from Brazil, and Mexico had just started but people are dropping the prices now to keep the stock moving as more arrive each day.”
“We are seeing some of the best quality of the year at the moment due to seasonality and weather in Brazil and Mexico. Its almost criminal to see the values currently for such beautiful product. We do foresee a rise in the coming weeks as lockdown restrictions are lifted.“