Shoppers have been warned they face further fruit and vegetable shortages as extreme weather in Spain and the UK disrupts crops. Temperatures in southern Spain are set to reach a new April record of 39C amid a long-lasting drought, while British growers have had a cold, overcast start to the growing season.
Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts said problems with fresh produce such as peppers and eggs persist. Waitrose reported working with suppliers to restore pepper stocks, expecting stabilisation in the coming weeks. Morrisons limited customers to two packs of red peppers earlier this week but plans to lift restrictions on Monday.
The British Retail Consortium blamed difficult weather in southern Europe for disrupted harvests. Many UK salad crop producers delayed planting due to cold weather, increasing reliance on energy for heating glasshouses. Lee Stiles of the Lea Valley Growers Association said planting of cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and aubergines was pushed back to late March to avoid high energy bills, delaying picking to mid-April.
Stiles noted that low light levels have slowed crop growth, with each 1% reduction in sunlight causing a 1% reduction in yield. The association’s members produce about three-quarters of UK domestic cucumbers and aubergines, and 10% of UK-grown tomatoes. An industry source said the cold spring forced outdoor growers to delay planting young plants and insulate others.
The National Farmers’ Union’s Christine McDowell highlighted that British growers face significant cost increases in energy and labour, with many unable to afford continued production at current returns.
