Torrential rain and frost across the British Isles over the last week has continued to play havoc with growers.
Lincolnshire grower Roger Welberry said that due to the weather the UK’s sprout crop is now three weeks late, which will result in mass shortages and noticeable price inflation over the Christmas period. “The sprout crop is down 35 per cent – it has been a season to forget,” explained Welberry.
The situation has been similar in Scotland, with the worst potato harvest since the 1950s – production is down up to 50 per cent – and rain continuing to waterlog fields.
“October has been in line with some of the worst months of the season, and with the onslaught of northerly winds this weekend, there will be cold on top of the showers,” said Alistair Ewan, MD of East of Scotland Growers.
Meanwhile, Tim O’Malley of Nationwide Produce said its Scottish-grown carrots (pictured) have been moved 80 per cent above the ground due to severe flooding, and claimed that, as a result of the wet weather, UK carrot production is down up to 20 per cent.
According to Welberry supermarkets are currently not properly supporting growers with flexibility in their prices.
Ewan echoed Welberry’s assessment and admitted: “It is no longer a case of how much growers will make, but by how much they can minimise losses.”
Despite London and the south east expected to get temperatures of around 20°C next week, The Met Office has confirmed that cold weather and winds will hit the north hard, with temperatures predicted to have sunk to 8°C in the Midlands and 6°C in Scotland this weekend.
“A cold snap will sweep across the country from Friday which is likely to bring snow to the north of England, and this will probably turn to sleet and rain in the south; we will have very brisk winds which will cause frosting and cold temperatures,” concluded Met Office forecaster Emma Sharples.
