Food shortage alert after spring ‘drought’
SHOPPERS were warned last night to brace for higher prices because of a summer fruit and veg shortage caused by months of dry weather.
Long spells without rain have left farmers and nursery growers struggling to deliver their usual crops.
Rock-hard ground and sharp nights of late frost in between unusually hot days have also decimated tender young plants and new shoots.
Produce at the greengrocers most at risk ranges from blackcurrants, apples and pears, to potatoes, carrots and asparagus.
Industry insiders and economists warn of the spike in food prices, which were already on the rise because of the fall in the pound against imports.
Desperate
Ground water levels are low in many areas of the country and some rivers, particularly in the north of England, have all but dried up.
Gardening expert Peter Mills said: “We are absolutely desperate for rain. We need weeks and weeks and weeks of it.”
Last month the UK as a whole received just 41 per cent of its average rainfall for April, under 1.5 inches. Some areas got less than 10 per cent.
That came after the driest October-March period since 1996, during which Britain got just 77 per cent of its norm, or less than 20in.
April also saw temperatures hit an unseasonably high 78F (25.5C) in some areas before cold snaps sent the mercury below freezing.
Mr Mills, a gardening adviser with the Royal Horticultural Society, said: “I have been speaking to nursery suppliers and growers and they have never seen a spring like it.
“The hard frosts which hit at Many rivers like the South Tyne at Lambley in Northumberland yesterday, above, are running dry the start of the month have knocked out all the vegetables and fruit crops. This is definitely going to affect fruit and vegetable supplies through the summer and we could see food prices rise as a result.”
The forecast is for rain but Mr Mills added: “These really are exceptional circumstances and although rain later this week is going to be welcome, we need many weeks of it.”
Money expert Scott Bowman from Capital Economics said: “Food prices have already started to rise due to the big fall in the pound and this will add to the upward pressure.”
The Met Office said it expects the weather to turn wetter and warmer by the weekend.
Temperatures in some areas could even soar into the high70s by next week.
However forecaster Emma Sharples said: “It will be less settled but we are unlikely to see the rainfall amounts that some people need.”