Earlier this year the mushroom trade had already been confronted  with disappointing crops from Bulgaria, Romania and Poland. Now it is becoming clear that this is happening in Spain and Portugal as well. "The harvest of the Pied de Mouton and the Girolles started a whole lot later than in previous years. Since this has finally started the harvests are kilo's smaller than what was harvested in the previous years" Harold Schuurmans of Westland Mushrooms tells. "The weather conditions are just as was the case previously, not favourable in the Eastern bloc countries for the development of the mushroom."

 

"Nature cannot b forced" as per colleague Piet Peters at location. He has been looking at the situation in Portugal as he wanted to see for himself what was really happening. "It is unbelievable that there is so little to be harvested. If it does not rain within ten days the production from these areas may well be the last from there."

"We have been fortunate by being able to obtain the entire production of one of the most important areas and therefore, at least for the time being, do not expect any scarcity for our clients, but it will be a puzzle to supply sufficient product to every body since rain is not being supplied by 'mother nature'" Harold concludes. An additional advantage is, that because of the drought in the production areas, the quality of the product is very high and the product itself very durable.

Except for the wild mushrooms the price of the Italian mushroom now also increases by leaps and bounds. The autumn truffle is now finished and we have now completely changed to the fresh Winter truffle. The aroma and taste of the winter truffle is even a little stronger than that of the Autumn truffle. "The past period, from before Christmas to New Year, there is a strong demand for truffles whilst the production is somewhat smaller. Everywhere stock has been depleted and consequently Truffles will remain scarce during the coming period, which is norm al for this time of the year."