The price of fruit and vegetables has reached its highest point in three years, with a typical basket of fresh produce costing 23 per cent more than it did in July.
As reported in the Daily Express, experts predict prices will continue to rocket in the run-up to Christmas.
One report even suggests families would be better off financially if they ate out on Christmas Day.
The shopping basket survey, published this week in The Grocer, warns there is no prospect of a slowdown in prices. The cost of cherry tomatoes has risen the most, increasing by a third between October and November, while grape prices were pushed up by 21 per cent and strawberries by 10 per cent. The cost of new potatoes and onions also rose steeply in the last month, the survey showed. Seasonal apples and mushrooms remained at a steady price, while green beans, pears and bananas dropped in price.
Phil Hudson of the National Farmers’ Union said: “There is a lot of talk about food price inflation across all categories, and fruit and veg is no exception. Oil, electricity and gas prices, as well as labour costs, are going up, some crops have been affected by weather conditions and the 5 A DAY message is getting through and driving demand for fresh produce.
“There is nothing to suggest that the effect of any of these influences is going to end,” he added.
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