A leading Norfolk grower has warned that vegetable and salad prices are set to rocket as consumers scramble for supplies hit by bad weather in the UK and southern Europe, last night.

Cauliflower and broccoli prices have almost doubled in a week at major produce markets in France and are set to go higher. And Ian Hall, of vegetable growers Tompsett Burgess Growers, of Isleham, near Ely, told the Norfolk eastern Daily Press that prices of carrots and parsnips could also rise because of a shortage of quality supplies.

Heavy snow in Kent, lower yields and the coldest and wettest weather for decades in key produce-growing areas in southern Spain have caused major disruption to the wholesale market.

Norwich supplier David McCarthy said the wholesale vegetable trade had seen major price increases in recent weeks. "We've seen the price of a box of iceberg lettuce rise from £5 to £15 in a week," he said. "There have been massive price increases for broccoli and cauliflower.

"At the French auctions yesterday, a box of cauliflower made £10.50. A week ago, it was £5.50. For broccoli, the price has risen from £6 or £7 per box to £10 or £11."

Heavy snow in Kent had compounded the problems. "We've not been able to get deliveries of apples because of the snow," added McCarthy.

He said the farm price of parsnips had risen from 60p to £1 per kg in almost a week because of the shortage. Hall for his part said that home-grown carrots and parsnips will be in short supply and, as a result, prices will rise.

"The market for parsnips is really limited to England and Wales. They are not as popular in Europe," he said, adding that parsnip canker had also harmed yields of some producers, although Tompsett Burgess Growers had escaped the worst.

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