WE’RE RUNNING SPROUT OF VEG
Shortage fear for Christmas after heatwave
A ROYAL Range Rover the Duke of Edinburgh used to pick up Barack Obama on a 2016 visit is up for sale.
Philip drove the then US President and wife Michelle to Windsor Castle after their helicopter landed nearby.
The vehicle, used by the royals for two years, is priced at £129,850 with Auto Trader and has done 3,200 miles.
Special features including police emergency lighting and side steps for the Queen have been removed though. Range Rover’s listing on Auto Trader A SHORTAGE of sprouts caused by the summer heatwave could stuff our Christmas dinners.
Farmers are also warning that spuds, carrots, leeks and parsnips will be in short supply – and what is available could be smaller and more expensive than usual.
Peter Thorold, who supplies sprouts to Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl, said the driest summer in his 50-year career has created a “crisis”.
He said: “There’s going to be huge shortages. There will be a quarter less sprouts than last year. They’ve not been growing.
“Other vegetables are also in trouble. There’s half as many potatoes as last year. Carrots and parsnips are the same, leeks are down.”
Mr Thorold said his Lincolnshire business was £500,000 down on last year, adding: “There was one period when we had 56 days without rain. I knew then the Christmas supply would be dented.”
Rob Clayton from AHDB Potatoes said spuds had Number of days without rain, according to farmer Peter Thorold in Lincs OFF MENU? also been nobbled by the earlier cold snap. He said: “Potatoes were late planting because of the Beast from the East and that caused an impact. That has been the same for other vegetables.”
But there is one silver lining to the veg we get to serve up being smaller.
Mr Thorold said: “When it comes to sprouts, they are actually tasting better because they are sweeter.”