Farmers warn of more salad staple shortages

Salad staples including cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes could soon be in short supply, stated a recent report citing British farmers’ warning that they are being paid too little to grow them. 

A combination of soaring energy costs and a lack of people to pick crops continues to affect Britain’s vegetable industry. Tomatoes in particular have been badly affected due to the rising cost of using heated greenhouses. 

The Lea Valley Growers Association’s secretary Lee Stiles told The Times there will be shortages of British produce next year ‘across the board’, as 40 of the group’s 80 members opted not to plant vegetables this year because of anticipated financial losses. Ten have left the business entirely, including all its remaining lettuce growers. 

“Backing British growers by paying fair prices doesn’t seem to be a priority for supermarkets,” Stiles said.  

“The amount of British fresh produce on the shelves from our growers has reduced by at least half this year already but consumers haven’t noticed it, or don’t care.” 

Stiles added that cucumber farmers are losing up to 30p on every sale, as they make just 40p per vegetable while one costs 70p to produce due to rising energy costs – more than they are sold for in some UK supermarkets.  

“We are taking all the risks and for a really low price. If the price doesn’t go up, the British cucumber industry will definitely not survive”, he said. 

A report from Promar International found that growers’ production costs increased by as much as 27 per cent in the past year – with tomatoes, broccoli, apples and root vegetables most affected.

Energy was one of the main drivers of increased costs, up 165 per cent, followed by fertiliser, up 40 per cent, and workforce costs, up 13 per cent. 

“The viability of producing fruit and vegetables is under the greatest strain I’ve ever seen.” Martin Emmett of the National Farmers’ Union said.  

“A continued lack of a reliable workforce, both in permanent and seasonal roles, combined with sharply rising input costs, particularly for energy, has put many businesses on a knife edge.  

“Producers of high energy crops in particular, such as top fruit, root vegetables and crops grown under glasshouses, have severe doubts about their business viability. Growers are doing everything they can to mitigate the impacts, but they cannot do it alone.” 

Emmett has called on the government to lift the cap on the seasonal worker scheme and increase the number of visas available in order to “safeguard the future of British fruit and vegetables”. 

Fertiliser is also a key component for farmers growing fruit and vegetables – and increasing costs due to it’s reliance on gas – which has seen price hikes due to a range of factors including Russia’s war with Ukraine.