Heatwave makes price of groceries shoot up
● Average supermarket price of common foods has increased
The price of some supermarket fruit and vegetables has gone up as the effects of the heatwave combined with the cold spring flow through to shop shelves.
The average supermarket price of broccoli is up 25.8 per cent per kilo year on year to £1.54, figures reported by The Grocer from analysts Brandview show, after growers warned that high temperatures meant brassica heads had stopped growing.
A kilo bag of own-label carrots is also 8.3 per cent more expensive than last year at 65p on average, while a pack of three large onions is 3.5 per cent pricier at 75p.
The UK has seen its driest first half of summer since 1961 and farmers have warned that the ongoing hot, dry conditions have hit crops.
Salad has also been affected by price hikes, with an iceberg
0 The weather has also affected potato crops in the UK but prices are down in supermarkets
lettuce now 52p on average in the major supermarkets, up from 49p at this time last year, while a pack of two Little Gem lettuces is 4.6 per cent more expensive at 75p, the trade publication reported.
The weather has also affected potato crops in the UK, but supermarket prices are down on last year, with a 2.5kg bag of white potatoes now 5p cheaper year on year at £1.38 on average and a 2.5kg bag of Maris
Piper potatoes down 5 per cent to £1.83.
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) estimates that the total area in Great Britain planted with potatoes is down three per cent on last year - the third-lowest figure on record.
AHDB’S sector strategy director for potatoes, Dr Rob Clayton, said: “This has been a tough and stressful season for growers, we do not under-estimate that. However, we welcome news that supply chains are working closer than ever before, and that continual improvements are leading to reduced food waste at all points from the grower to the consumer.
“The season started with sub-zero temperatures brought by the Beast from the East, followed by a wet spring that delayed planting. Since then, we’ve seen one of the driest combined June and July periods on record, so most growers are reporting that yields will be down.”
A pack of five Braeburn apples is 3p more expensive than last summer at £1.32 and a 400g punnet of strawberries is up by 3p to £1.91, The Grocer reported.
The soft fruit season has seen a bumper harvest following favourable spring conditions, but growers warned that an extended period of hot, dry weather might eventually damage crops.
UK food inflation accelerated to 1.6 per cent in July from the 1.2 per cent rate seen during May and June.