Growers warn of fresh produce shortage as UK temperatures plummet

Supermarkets are set to face further fruit and vegetable shortages due to the anticipated deep freeze, according to growers’ organisations. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This will be an additional hit on top of the European cold weather that has already damaged the supply chain. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Poor conditions have led to a shortage of readily available fruit and vegetables from the continent, resulting in supermarket shelves being bare in recent weeks. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cold weather expected this week is expected to reduce the availability of British crops, which British growers warn will further affect supplies in the future, according to a report by the Daily Mail. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Joe Shepherdson of the Cucumber Growers’ Association says, “Plants are going in more each week, but the harvest is still four weeks away and we have this incoming weather to deal with.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Jack Ward, of the British Growers Association, warns that we will see stocks running low of carrots, leeks, cabbage, and cauliflower. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The shortage of fruit and vegetables in shops and markets is partially blamed on ‘just in time’ supply chains at supermarkets. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Supermarkets such as Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Aldi, and Lidl have all rationed salads last week due to shortages. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Richard Diplock, managing director at the Green House Growers based in southern England, said his energy costs are some six times higher compared to previous winters. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Meanwhile, some experts are pointing to Brexit as a contributing factor. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, Michael Winter, a professor of agricultural change at the University of Exeter, suggests that “it’s more to do with climate change and lack of investment in our industry.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It was reported earlier last week that bosses at Deeside-based Iceland expected fruit and veg supply to be “back to normal” within two weeks, but with snow and ice warnings, it is unclear whether that prediction will stand. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

But with snow and ice warnings, and a cold snap expected to send temperatures into minus figures, it is unclear whether that prediction will stand. the Daily Mail states. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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