Need to know
Fruit and vegetable growers have warned they may be forced to stop production early due to rising energy and transport costs following the Iran war in the Middle East
Supermarket shelves could be left empty as Middle East conflict drives up food costs
- Supermarket shelves could be left EMPTY as Middle East conflict drives up food production costs, with fruit and veg growers warning they may be forced to halt production early.
- Lea Valley Growers Association secretary Lee Stiles warned that growers are in the same position as when Russia invaded Ukraine, with wholesale gas prices creeping up.
- He said: “With rising costs, many growers are thinking they might as well send the staff home, stop for the season and not produce anything.”
- The LVGA, Britain’s biggest cucumber grower, also produces sweet peppers, aubergines and tomatoes.
- Stiles warned: “It looks as though they’re prepared to have empty shelves again and reduced availability.”
- West Sussex Growers Association’s Rachael Williams said red diesel has shot up by more than 50% in just 10 days.
- The National Farmers’ Union met with Defra to discuss UK food resilience, with president Tom Bradshaw warning farmers are “more exposed than ever to global markets.”
- READ THE FULL STORY: UK supermarket shelves could run dry as Iran war drives up costs with warning issued
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