Food shortages – latest: Carrots, leeks and cabbages could run low in weeks as supermarkets ration

Volumes of carrots, leeks, cabbage and cauliflower could run low “within weeks,” growers have warned.

Jack Ward, CEO of the British Growers Association, said: “The industry is beginning to see the negative impact of last summer’s extreme temperatures and drought on UK crops.

“Volumes are running low as a result of the weather last summer and the situation has been made worse by harsh frosts around Christmas.

“Consequently we may start to see stocks of crops like carrots, leeks, cabbage and cauliflower running low within the coming weeks.

He added: “Europe has also been hit by adverse weather conditions and so supplies from other parts of Europe may be difficult to source until the new crops start to appear around June.”

As four of the UK’s biggest supermarkets put limits on the amount of fruit and vegetables customers may buy, growers have warned that shortages of some produce could last until May.

The Lea Valley Growers Association said that while weather conditions in Spain and Morocco are the main reason for the supply shortage, it is further exacerbated by UK producers who are delaying planting some crops due to high energy costs, reported the BBC.

Earlier Therese Coffey told MPs that ongoing shortages of produce will be a temporary issue that should be resolved in “two to four weeks”.

She suggested the UK should “cherish the specialisms” it has and a “lot of people would be eating turnips right now” under a seasonal food model – rather than thinking about lettuce, tomatoes and similar produce.

We are wrapping up our live coverage of supermarket rationing.

Thank you for reading.

Food inflation has caused the price of everyday grocery items to skyrocket, with the price of pasta nearly doubling in two years.

British shoppers are seeing the average weekly shop bite harder into their budgets, with shoppers relying on value ranges bearing the brunt of the price rises.

The cost of value items was up 21.6 per cent in January on a year before, well in excess of overall grocery inflation of 15.9 per cent, consumer analysis platform, Which? found.

In comparison, branded goods rose by 13.2 per cent over the year, own-label premium ranges were up 13.4 per cent and standard own-brand items increased 18.9 per cent.

Thomas Kingsley reports:

People living in Europe are sharing pictures of their packed supermarket shelves to lay bare the reality of Britain’s recent food shortages.

British supermarkets have been hit with shortages since the weekend due to adverse weather, transport problems and other factors, with Morrisons admitting to a lack of tomatoes and shoppers reporting difficulties sourcing fresh vegetables in other supermarkets.

Asda announced it will be limiting customers to a maximum of three items such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and broccoli in response to the problem.

Aldi confirmed it has also begun rationining fresh produce, a spokesperson.

David Rose, Professor of Sustainable Agricultural Systems at Cranfield University, said: “British farmers and growers have received very little help with rising costs, while the UK is the worst affected country in Europe for rising energy costs.

“If our glasshouse growers cannot afford to turn on the LED lights and heating, they can’t help to plug a shortfall. Without government intervention with energy costs or retailer support in raising prices, our farmers and growers are going to continue to struggle.

“Longer-term, science and technology can begin to address some of the challenges farmers face, potentially lowering input costs (e.g. robotics with labour) and improving yields (e.g. gene editing) and offer new production systems (e.g. vertical farming, cultured meat).

“But we also need to challenge cheap food narratives. It isn’t the fault of the farmer that people are struggling to afford food - this is a social inequality problem and technology is not a solution for poverty.”

The Lea Valley Growers Association has said some of the UK’s major growers are delaying planting crops because of high energy costs.

It has about 80 members across an area that includes Greater London, Hertfordshire and Essex who produce around three-quarters of the UK’s cucumbers and peppers, as well as a lot of aubergines and tomatoes.

The Association’s secretary Lee Stiles told the BBC that high energy costs and low supermarket prices are making it harder for growers to earn a living.

Many are delaying planting or growing less and about 10% have left the sector altogether.

First it was tomatoes – now leeks could be off the menu as growers warn that British-grown supplies could be exhausted by April.

High temperatures and a lack of rain, followed by a period of cold weather, are being blamed for creating the “most difficult season ever”.

Supermarkets are already limiting the sale of tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables because of a lack of imports.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said on Thursday that British consumers should eat more turnips instead of imported food, but the Leek Growers Association said shoppers will have to rely on leeks grown abroad through May and June.

No 10 has rejected suggestions that Brexit was to blame for any food shortages.

Asked if the UK’s departure from the EU was impacting shortages, the prime minister’s spokesperson said: “The industry and retailers themselves have spoken about the reason for some of the supply issues we are facing, notably poor weather in certain parts of southern Europe and north Africa.”