Resident in UK Can Only Buy Three Tomatoes, Peppers and Cucumbers
- France 24
VIVA – As the UK experiencing a shortage of some fruits and vegetables, several supermarkets have been forced to limit the amount of produce each of their customers can buy. Some are only allowing three tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers to be purchased per person.
The British government has blamed the shortfalls on extreme weather conditions in Spain and North Africa, where most of the fruits and vegetables consumed in the UK this time of year are sourced – which has affected harvests.
Moreover, the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the trade association representing UK retailers, says the shortages are expected to last for “a few weeks” until the UK growing season begins in the spring, giving shops alternative sources of supply, as reported from France24 site.
Krisis pangan di Inggris
- The Telegraph
Environment Minister Therese Coffey caused an uproar on Thursday by suggesting that Britons should eat fewer tomatoes and more turnips, fueling the debate over the reasons for the scarcity. While many say that bad weather conditions and rising energy prices are to blame, others are pointing the finger at the UK government and Brexit.
Extreme weather conditions
Exceptionally cold weather in Spain, flooding in Morocco, and storms that have severely disrupted the transport of goods are just some of the reasons why the UK is experiencing a fruit and vegetable shortage, according to the BRC.
During the winter months, the UK imports around 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuce from Spain and North Africa.
However, the UK has experienced extreme weather conditions as well. Heatwaves earlier this year led to the fourth-hottest summer on record, with temperatures exceeding 40°C for the first time. In December, the country was hit by a series of severe and prolonged frosts.
This makes it difficult for the UK to rely on local producers, or even those in the Netherlands, another of its major food trading partners. Due to rising electricity prices, farmers in both countries have been forced to use their greenhouses less and concentrate their efforts on winter crops.
UK retailers should look for alternative sources of supply and rely on locally produced crops. The British National Farmers Union, the country's main farmers' union, has called for a government support plan aimed at producers. The government announced last week that more than £168 million, or €190 million, had been paid to British farmers.
