It also follows warnings from supermarket giants last week that the “fragility of the UK food system is increasingly obvious” amid the delicate geopolitical picture and wildfires across Europe. Pubs, restaurants and shops are reportedly having to buy lettuce and broccoli from Spain at what is supposed to be the peak growing season for British farmers. Broccoli growers have reported their yield being halved amid the hot temperatures.
“We are having to put two heads of broccoli together to make the weight the pack is sold in,” Riviera Produce’s David Simmons, who grows a variety of vegetables on his family’s farm in Cornwall, told The Guardian.
Mr Simmons, who is also on the board of the Brassica Growers’ Association trade body, said the UK is currently “very short” of broccoli, with produce being brought in from Spain and the Netherlands to make up the shortfall.
He also warned of potential issues around cauliflower, saying: “Cauliflowers could go short in the next couple of weeks, we can see that being the next issue.”
The National Farmers’ Union has also warned there could be shortages of certain foods amid the dry and hot conditions.
President Tom Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4: “Those other countries around the world that we currently rely on to produce our food and vegetables, their climates are changing as well.
“It does feel like there is going be some shortages of [food] products.”
A group of 60 farmers in Lincolnshire reports the English pea harvest is down by a third, according to The Guardian, although the harvest in Scotland is expected to be better.
Meanwhile, the wholesale price of tomatoes has reportedly risen by more than 60%, iceberg lettuce by 90% and potatoes by more than 40%.
They said December yields — including potatoes, parsnips and Brussels sprouts — could be at risk.