Garlic: tight supply drives up prices

Low availabiity drives up garlic prices

According to Clara Shih of Best Buy Produce International, garlic prices are likely to remain high this year due to the tight supply. In China, rainfall during the harvest has caused damage, meaning the season is starting with significantly higher prices than last year. Despite a good crop, garlic is very sensitive: damage and rain during the harvest can cause mould to form and affect shelf life. Furthermore, ongoing tariffs on Chinese produce continue to affect prices. In Mexico, too, supply of larger sizes is limited. In California, the harvest is still underway, although reports of damage to early-harvested garlic are further exacerbating the tight supply situation.

Demand and logistics are influencing the market

Demand for garlic has eased slightly. At the same time, customers are increasingly turning to purple garlic as a cheaper alternative to the more popular white garlic. According to Shih, demand for purple garlic has risen, partly because it can be shipped over longer distances. Price trends are also being influenced by persistently high sea freight rates and delays in shipments from China. Typhoons in China are hampering sea transport, whilst fewer ships are calling at the east coast due to the trade dispute. As a result, shipment volumes fluctuate from week to week.

Stricter checks on seed garlic in South Korea

Ahead of the August-September season for the distribution and sowing of seed garlic, the Korea Seed & Variety Service plans to step up checks in key garlic-growing regions of South Korea, as reported by FreshPlaza. The authority has increased imports of seed garlic to 670 mt compared with last year in order to meet domestic demand. At the same time, it warns that table garlic, which is not suitable for sowing, could be disguised and sold as seed garlic.

Possible sanctions

Among other things, checks will cover the registration of seed companies, reports on variety production, imports and sales, as well as production, packaging and import data. In addition, ongoing online monitoring is to take place. Where violations are suspected – such as breaches of origin labelling requirements – the authority intends to collaborate with the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service. The measures are intended to support the seed distribution system and ensure compliance with seed labelling regulations. Anyone distributing seeds without the required registration or notifications faces up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to around won 20 million (approximately USD 14,309). Violations of seed labelling regulations are also punishable by fines, according to FreshPlaza.

Lack of product knowledge is a challenge

Garlic’s image remains very positive: four out of five French consumers consider it healthy and indispensable in the kitchen. However, varieties other than white garlic – including pink, purple, black and smoked garlic – are little known, particularly amongst younger consumers. There are also gaps in knowledge regarding origin and seasonality: two-thirds of those surveyed cannot name the main garlic-producing countries, and almost one in two consumers does not know the season for French garlic.

Younger consumers also use garlic differently to older generations. Those aged 18 to 29 are more likely to buy dried, puréed or frozen garlic, prioritising ease and speed of use as well as recipes from international cuisines. According to the Technical Interprofessional Centre for Fruit and Vegetables (Centre Technique Interprofessionnel des Fruits et Légumes; CTIFL), the study highlights several areas where action could be taken to boost consumption once again. These include placing greater emphasis on French origin, offering more loose produce and packaging suited to smaller households, and providing better information on varieties, uses, flavour and seasonality. Proper storage could also play a role, as nearly one in two consumers occasionally throws garlic away, mainly due to poor storage.

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