Fruit and vegetable shortage could last until May, say growers

Cucumber sales were limited to three per person in many supermarkets

A shortage of some fruit and vegetables could last until May, according to producers in one of the UK's biggest growing regions.

The Lea Valley Growers Association said major UK growers were delaying planting some crops due to high energy costs.

Major UK supermarkets have been placing limits on fruit and vegetable sales after shortages.

The government and industry have blamed bad weather in Spain and North Africa for the squeeze.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the UK's supply chain was "highly resilient" and "well-equipped" to deal with disruption.

It added ministers would be meeting supermarkets to discuss how they can return supplies to normal.

The Lea Valley Growers Association (LVGA) has about 80 members across an area that includes Greater London, Hertfordshire and Essex.

Growers there produce around three-quarters of the UK cucumber and pepper crops, and a lot of aubergines and tomatoes.

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The association said that while weather conditions in Spain and Morocco are the main reason behind the current shortages, the situation is being made worse by UK producers delaying planting crops this season.

They have been put off by high energy costs for greenhouses, and low prices offered by supermarkets for their produce.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said on Thursday that shortages could last for a month, but UK growers think it could be for longer.

"The majority of tomatoes, peppers and aubergines are not going to be around in big volumes until May, so it's going to be longer than a few weeks," said Lee Stiles, secretary of the LVGA.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents supermarkets, says that the UK imports about 95% of its tomatoes in winter.

But Mr Stiles said the association, which also imports produce, is only getting a quarter of the produce it has ordered from Spain and Morocco.

"Some Lea Valley pack houses have closed for a few days due to lack of deliveries, and others are losing workers as they could only offer three hours work a day instead of full shifts over the last few weeks."

"It's too late for UK growers to step in and try and make up some of the shortfall," he added.

"If we planted tomatoes, peppers and aubergines in December, we would be picking now.

"And if we planted cucumbers in the first week of January like we normally do, we'd be picking on Valentines Day as usual."

Mr Stiles said the prices set by supermarkets for UK produce mean it is hard for growers to make a living, particularly during a period of very high energy bills.

Many producers are growing less or have delayed planting, and 10% of members have left the sector altogether, he said.

"It's a simple fact of economics between the growers and the supermarkets," he said.

"Half of our growers didn't grow last year, and half of our growers are not growing this year, and that's because they couldn't secure an increased price from the supermarkets to cover the increased cost of energy and fertiliser, and inputs that they needed in order to make a profit and make a living on the produce grown."

As Spanish and Moroccan produce starts increasing again, growers in those countries are more likely to sell to buyers closer to home, he added.

"You've got more fuel costs on a four-day trip to the UK and there are additional fees to get it through the border," he said, adding that international growers are more likely to get a higher price for their goods in other countries.

"They can simply get a better price in Europe for less hassle," he said. "The UK is such a small market for Spanish and Moroccan produce. Who are they going to look after first?"

LVGA member Tony Montalbano runs his cucumber growing company, Green Acre Salads, from Roydon in Essex.

Tony reduced his crop this season and delayed planting because of the high cost of energy, and the prices offered by UK customers.

"I normally do three crops in a season starting in January, and then harvest around the middle of February. I've had to remove the first crop, and start with my second and third crop to try and save costs over the winter period," he said.

The prices growers get for produce in the UK compared with Europe are unsustainable, he added.

"A cucumber is selling for around 75p on the shelves here in the UK. In Europe, you're looking at £1.50. And it's cheaper to grow there.

"I looked at the prices I would get for my cucumbers and thought to myself, 'I can't see us making it this year'."

The BRC said retailers were working with farmers to ensure customers could access a wide range of fresh produce.

BRC director of food and sustainability Andrew Opie said: "Retailers have long established relationships with the farmers in the UK and beyond, and they understand they need to pay a sustainable price for these goods."

A survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggested that more people are struggling to find the food they want when they go shopping.

The ONS said that between 8 and 19 February, 25% of adults said they could not find a replacement when the food they needed was not available, up from 15% in a similar period a year ago.

Additional reporting by Tom Espiner