South west cauliflower production under threat

FALLING prices are threatening the long-term future of cauliflower production in the south west, growers in the region are warning.

The price paid to growers was down to between 18 pence and 20 pence a head this week, well below the cost of production.

According to NFU horticulture board chairman Richard Hirst, growers would normally expect to receive around 40 per cent of the 89p/head retail price - around 35p per head. Currently they are receiving just 20 per cent, he says.

Set against this backdrop of falling prices is the prospect of increased production costs - currently 34-35p per head - as a result of input price inflation.

With a significant proportion of cauliflower production taking place on rented land there are also concerns over increasing land rents as cereal growers look to expand their acreages to take advantage of high grain prices.

The current problems in part stem back to last summer when wet weather delayed planting. Crop that should have been ready in December is only now ready for harvest and there is a glut of produce on the market.