UK has been warned of further shortage of fruits and vegetables as temperatures in southern Spain soar to unprecedented levels while domestic growing season continues to remain disrupted due to cold and higher energy bills, recent reports have claimed.
Temperatures were expected to reach a new April record of 39C (102F) in parts of Andalucía on Friday (28) amid a long-lasting drought that has affected the production of vegetables in Spain. Córdoba reached a record 38.8C on Thursday.
Spain has been in drought since January last year and this is likely to be the hottest, driest April on record, which is set to affect its crops. Fresh produce grown in Spain for UK consumption includes tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuces, broccoli and citrus fruit.
Meanwhile, British growers have also been facing weather challenges, particularly the cold start to the spring growing season and a lack of sunlight. Many UK salad crop producers delayed planting fruit and vegetables because the cold weather made them even more reliant on energy for heating and lighting their glasshouses.
Lea Valley Growers Association, which produces three quarters of Britain’s cucumbers and peppers, said 40 of its 80 members opted not to plant vegetables over concerns they would make financial losses.
Those who did plant crops including cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and aubergines waited until late March to try to avoid soaring energy bills, according to Lee Stiles from the Lea Valley Growers Association.
The lack of spring sunshine had also had an impact.
“Currently crops are looking good yet [their growth is] slightly slower due to the light levels. Light levels have been particularly low this year," The Guardian quoted Stiles as saying, who added that t each 1 per cent reduction in sunlight equates to a 1 per cent reduction in crop yield.
The National Farmers’ Union’s horticulture and potatoes adviser, Christine McDowell, said that British growers continue to face significant cost increases, such as energy and labour, and many simply cannot afford to keep producing food with the current returns.”
Sainsbury’s has warned of further shortages this week. Simon Roberts, chief executive of the supermarket, said problems with fresh produce such as a peppers remained.
Brian McLister