Leeks may be next vegetable to be rationed

SUPPLIES of leeks could run out within weeks after farmers suffered the worst growing season for years.

Leek growers have suffered a drop in yields of as much as 30 per cent following high temperatures and low rainfall, with fears that supermarkets will have to introduce rationing.

Tim Casey, chairman of the Leek Growers Association, warned that the supply of homegrown leeks would be “exhausted” by April, with customers having to rely on imported crops in May and June.

He said: “The drought and the high temperatures in the summer stunted growth. Although we were irrigating the leeks like mad, all we were really doing was keeping them on life support and stopping them from dying.

“We had a relatively kind autumn and a lot of growth but it wasn’t able to make up time for the crops before the winter came.”

It comes as Tesco and Aldi ration tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers because of a shortage linked to bad weather in Morocco and Spain. Asda has also put limits on the sale of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries.

Supermarkets are also struggling to keep their shelves stocked with eggs, as more British farmers quit in the face of rising costs for feed and higher energy bills.

Mr Casey said: “It’s shortsighted policies by supermarkets to drive down prices as much as possible so there’s no resilience left.”

He added that Britain will probably have to rely on countries such as Belgium, Holland and Turkey for supply.

‘The drought and high temperatures in the summer stunted growth’

He said: “They’ve had similar weather patterns. It’s been really difficult weather across Europe.

“But they’ve just got a much more resilient supply chain over there because everything is better supported in terms of cost and government regulations.”

Thérèse Coffey, the Environment Secretary, suggested on Thursday that British consumers should eat more turnips instead of imported food.