UK growers of salad crops including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and aubergines are facing mounting energy cost pressures that could force some to abandon production, raising fresh concerns over supply gaps on supermarket shelves.
According to a recent report, escalating energy costs are pushing glasshouse producers to the brink, with industry leaders warning that continuing to grow crops may no longer be financially viable.
Lee Stiles, secretary of the Lea Valley Growers’ Association, has urged the government to classify glasshouse producers as “energy-intensive users” to help offset soaring costs.
The pressure has intensified following a rise in energy standing charges this month, further inflating already high bills for growers reliant on heated glasshouses.
““Growers have already bought plants and use labour to bring them up for three to four months so far,” Stiles said.
“When you do the maths, they don’t add up. They would lose less money by sending workers home, pulling the plants out and turning off the boiler. They would still lose money but less. It’s not much of a choice.”
He also called on retailers to renegotiate supply contracts to better reflect rising input costs, warning that failure to do so could lead to growers halting harvests.
Industry sources caution that if domestic production drops, European suppliers may struggle to fill the gap, potentially leading to a repeat of the widespread fruit and vegetable shortages seen during early 2023.