Imports of salad greens to the UK have dropped by at the least half, in keeping with the principle group representing English growers, highlighting the dimensions of the shortages going through households.

4 UK supermarkets started rationing merchandise together with peppers, cucumbers, lettuces and tomatoes this week after frost in Spain and north Africa led to a steep decline in availability, with the UK among the many locations worst affected by diminished provides.

Lee Stiles, secretary of the Lea Valley Growers Affiliation, whose members additionally import produce, mentioned that “round half of every little thing that we might count on is arriving . . . it will have the largest impact on firms that procure within the open market”.

The British Retail Consortium mentioned that in 2019, the final 12 months for which it has knowledge, imports have accounted for about 95 per cent of the tomato market in March and 90 per cent of lettuces.

A significant Spanish grower instructed the Monetary Instances that present business provides had been a 3rd of regular ranges for this time of the 12 months, whereas one UK grocery store mentioned it had round two-thirds of its standard quantity of produce.

The scarcity has been exacerbated by UK and Netherlands-based glasshouse growers opting to not domesticate fruit and greens over the winter due to excessive vitality prices and UK labour shortages, mentioned farming teams.

Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Morrisons are actually limiting purchases.

Atmosphere secretary Thérèse Coffey instructed the Home of Commons on Thursday that retailers had instructed her the shortages had been anticipated to final two to 4 weeks.

“It’s vital to be sure that we cherish the specialisms that we now have on this nation,” she mentioned. “Lots of people could be consuming turnips proper now, somewhat than pondering essentially about . . . lettuce and tomatoes.”

Costs have soared for salad greens throughout the continent following the poor climate. However the UK has been particularly affected by shortages due to the additional journey to move produce throughout the Channel, along with comparatively low retail costs for greens, mentioned Stiles. Shortages have additionally been reported in Eire.

UK supermarkets purchase most of their greens underneath contract however some suppliers have been prioritising different contracts or promoting produce at larger costs on the open market, executives mentioned.

Strain on UK supermarkets has been heightened by companies similar to greengrocers and hospitality shops turning to supermarkets for his or her provides, in addition to by customers’ desire for consuming salads out of season.

Jesús Pérez, business director of Spanish grower Verdimed, mentioned manufacturing volumes had fallen to about 30 per cent of regular ranges after the autumn planting grew too quick due to unusually heat climate, then the winter planting was sluggish to develop.

“We expect subsequent week might be regular, however I don’t know the way lengthy it is going to take till the UK market will get product due to packing, transport to depots, supply to outlets,” he mentioned.

The UK can also be particularly depending on Morocco, which has positioned limits on tomato exports following worth spikes. Mehdi Benchekroun, of Moroccan fruit and vegetable exporter DMB & Co, mentioned: “As a result of European provides from Spain and Portugal have fallen due to the chilly climate, all of the consumers have come to Morocco. This example began at the beginning of the 12 months and home costs have risen to information.”

Pekka Pesonen, secretary-general of Copa-Cogeca, the EU farmers’ union, mentioned additional post-Brexit paperwork was additionally an element, despite the fact that full sanitary and phytosanitary checks on imports haven’t but been applied.

“There may be excessive demand for sure Spanish produce and if Spanish firms are approached, would they choose to promote to the British, or to EU nations that are simpler to export to, the place they don’t have all of the paperwork?” he mentioned.

“It’s extra of a trouble exporting from Spain to the UK as an alternative of to Germany. For those who pay sufficient there’ll all the time be sources, however I don’t know whether or not UK retailers are prepared to pay extraordinarily excessive costs.”