The UK is struggling with a vegetable shortage. How did it happen?
Written byTimes Magazine
When European Union leader Ursula von der Leyen visited the UK last week, some on social media joked: Can we have some tomatoes, please? people in the UK. has had to ration salad staples such as tomatoes and cucumbers for two weeks because there is a shortage of fresh vegetables. Many stores have had empty fresh produce shelves and most major supermarkets have limited the number of bags of lettuce or peppers customers can buy.
Authorities attribute the problem to bad weather in Spain and North Africa and say the shortages could last for up to a month. But many people were quick to point out that other European countries don't seem to be facing the same challenges, leading some to wonder if this was a consequence of Britain's split from the EU.
The UK government has rejected the suggestion that Brexit is to blame. But shoppers are not happy, and Environment Secretary Therese Coffey's suggestion that consumers should "appreciate" British produce and eat more beets rather than imported food drew widespread derision.
Experts say Brexit likely played a role in food shortages, although a more complex set of factors including climate change, the UK's over-reliance on winter imports, skyrocketing energy costs and competitive pricing strategies in UK supermarkets are more prominent explanations.
A look at some of the factors contributing to what one European broadcaster has dubbed Britain's "vegetable fiasco":
Authorities attribute the problem to bad weather in Spain and North Africa and say the shortages could last for up to a month. But many people were quick to point out that other European countries don't seem to be facing the same challenges, leading some to wonder if this was a consequence of Britain's split from the EU.
The UK government has rejected the suggestion that Brexit is to blame. But shoppers are not happy, and Environment Secretary Therese Coffey's suggestion that consumers should "appreciate" British produce and eat more beets rather than imported food drew widespread derision.
Experts say Brexit likely played a role in food shortages, although a more complex set of factors including climate change, the UK's over-reliance on winter imports, skyrocketing energy costs and competitive pricing strategies in UK supermarkets are more prominent explanations.
A look at some of the factors contributing to what one European broadcaster has dubbed Britain's "vegetable fiasco":
COLD WEATHER, HIGH ENERGY BILLS
Unusually cold temperatures in Spain and heavy rains and floods in Morocco, two of Britain's largest suppliers of tomatoes, have resulted in low yields and are cited as the main cause of shortages.
In Spain, farmers blame recent sub-zero temperatures for last year's record heat and drought.
In the southern province of Almería, which produces 40% of Spain's fresh vegetable exports, the production of tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants fell by more than 20% in the first three weeks of February compared to the same period of 2022, according to FEPEX, the representation of the Spanish fruit and vegetable exporters.The group said the situation is improving.
Heat and drought in Europe last year also affected vegetable growing in other countries, including Germany.
On the other hand, the Netherlands, another major tomato producer, saw production fall as skyrocketing energy costs related to Russia's war in Ukraine caused many growers to slash the cost of running LED lights in their greenhouses in this country Winter could not justify.
UK vegetable growers.they have reported that they too have been forced to leave their greenhouses empty.
Richard Diplock, managing director of Green House Growers of southern England, said his energy bills are about six times higher than in previous winters.
“We decided we couldn't afford to heat the greenhouses in December and January and we postponed planting until February. Many tomato growers are in a similar position,” he said.
BLAME BREXIT
Bottlenecks in the UK – and contrasting images of shelves full of vegetables in continental European supermarkets – prompted some Brexit gloating in some EU media.
Experts say the additional red tape and costs associated with Brexit have played a role, although they stress it is not a major factor.
"One hypothesis for less exports to the UK is: if supply is constrained, why would you need to do more paperwork (to export to the UK)?" said Michael Winter, Professor of Agricultural Change at the University of Exeter ."If the transaction costs of exporting to one country are higher than another, that will determine where it's going."
"Brexit undoubtedly exaggerated the problem," added Winter. "But I don't want to overdo it. It has more to do with climate change and lack of investment in our industry.”
Unusually cold temperatures in Spain and heavy rains and floods in Morocco, two of Britain's largest suppliers of tomatoes, have resulted in low yields and are cited as the main cause of shortages.
In Spain, farmers blame recent sub-zero temperatures for last year's record heat and drought.
In the southern province of Almería, which produces 40% of Spain's fresh vegetable exports, the production of tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants fell by more than 20% in the first three weeks of February compared to the same period of 2022, according to FEPEX, the representation of the Spanish fruit and vegetable exporters.The group said the situation is improving.
Heat and drought in Europe last year also affected vegetable growing in other countries, including Germany.
On the other hand, the Netherlands, another major tomato producer, saw production fall as skyrocketing energy costs related to Russia's war in Ukraine caused many growers to slash the cost of running LED lights in their greenhouses in this country Winter could not justify.
UK vegetable growers.they have reported that they too have been forced to leave their greenhouses empty.
Richard Diplock, managing director of Green House Growers of southern England, said his energy bills are about six times higher than in previous winters.
“We decided we couldn't afford to heat the greenhouses in December and January and we postponed planting until February. Many tomato growers are in a similar position,” he said.
BLAME BREXIT
Bottlenecks in the UK – and contrasting images of shelves full of vegetables in continental European supermarkets – prompted some Brexit gloating in some EU media.
Experts say the additional red tape and costs associated with Brexit have played a role, although they stress it is not a major factor.
"One hypothesis for less exports to the UK is: if supply is constrained, why would you need to do more paperwork (to export to the UK)?" said Michael Winter, Professor of Agricultural Change at the University of Exeter ."If the transaction costs of exporting to one country are higher than another, that will determine where it's going."
"Brexit undoubtedly exaggerated the problem," added Winter. "But I don't want to overdo it. It has more to do with climate change and lack of investment in our industry.”
SUPERMARKET PRICES
Farmers say another factor is how Britain's largest supermarkets have tried to remain competitive by keeping prices as low as possible even as food costs have skyrocketed, a key driver of inflation, which is at its highest has stood for decades.
In some EU countries like Germany, there are no empty shelves, but the prices of fresh vegetables have skyrocketed. UK supermarkets are reluctant to pay more or charge customers that much, Diplock said.
“Being in the UK."You know the price of a pickle is 75p ($0.90) every week, regardless of the time of year," Diplock said. "North African and Spanish producers will see better profitability supplying European supermarkets."
"WHERE'S THE INVESTMENT?"
Even if energy costs hadn't soared, British manufacturers wouldn't even come close to making up for the lack of imported products, Diplock said.
In winter UK domestic production accounts for only 5% or less of the tomatoes and cucumbers sold in UK supermarkets.
The National Farmers Union has been warning for months that over-reliance on imported fresh produce is leaving the UK.vulnerable to unpredictable weather events and other external factors such as the war in Ukraine.
Farmers have also complained about a lack of government investment in the sector and funding to help them deal with painfully high energy bills.
The government has spent billions to help consumers and businesses as natural gas prices in Europe have risen to record levels due to reduced supplies from Russia.
"The big question is why have we neglected horticulture in this country," Winter said. "That's a little wake-up call.
Farmers say another factor is how Britain's largest supermarkets have tried to remain competitive by keeping prices as low as possible even as food costs have skyrocketed, a key driver of inflation, which is at its highest has stood for decades.
In some EU countries like Germany, there are no empty shelves, but the prices of fresh vegetables have skyrocketed. UK supermarkets are reluctant to pay more or charge customers that much, Diplock said.
“Being in the UK."You know the price of a pickle is 75p ($0.90) every week, regardless of the time of year," Diplock said. "North African and Spanish producers will see better profitability supplying European supermarkets."
"WHERE'S THE INVESTMENT?"
Even if energy costs hadn't soared, British manufacturers wouldn't even come close to making up for the lack of imported products, Diplock said.
In winter UK domestic production accounts for only 5% or less of the tomatoes and cucumbers sold in UK supermarkets.
The National Farmers Union has been warning for months that over-reliance on imported fresh produce is leaving the UK.vulnerable to unpredictable weather events and other external factors such as the war in Ukraine.
Farmers have also complained about a lack of government investment in the sector and funding to help them deal with painfully high energy bills.
The government has spent billions to help consumers and businesses as natural gas prices in Europe have risen to record levels due to reduced supplies from Russia.
"The big question is why have we neglected horticulture in this country," Winter said. "That's a little wake-up call.
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