The winter blues have hit the UK big time this week.

The bitter chill envelops us, we are surrounded by sniffers and coughers everywehere we go, and in the produce industry the first predictions begin to emerge of another seriously difficult winter for growers in the southern climes of Europe.

Rather depressingly the latter phenomenon can now be lumped into the category labelled “perennial” with the first two. And the portents are not particularly good for UK growers or some north-African supply sources either. Anyone who still scoffs at the very idea of climate change must be living on another planet.

It all provides the fresh produce trade with a challenging conundrum. Suppliers and their buyers were seen scurrying around last winter looking for new sources for a variety of products - the growers and exporters who managed to fit the bill and fill the gaps may well have another chance to shine in the next few months.

French growers are already predicting the need for huge price hikes to match supply shortfall. But as they say, one man’s loss is another man’s gain. If suppliers further afield can match the quality and price expectations of the UK market, we could see real changes in the supply picture in years to come.

It is a harsh scenario for growers everywhere, but one that they have no choice but to come to terms with.