More empty shelves expected with food system ‘at breaking point’

Industry leaders are warning current food shortages on supermarket shelves are set to intensify, unless the government takes urgent action to reignite a new “dig for Britain” approach.

Major retailers are limiting the amount of fruit and vegetables customers can buy, blaming poor harvests in Spain and northern Africa for dwindling supplies.

The British Retail Consortium expects the shortages to last a few weeks, until the UK growing season begins and retailers can replenish supplies.

See also: UK growers call for urgent government action on horticulture

However, farming organisations are warning that food shortages in certain sectors could last for weeks and even months without urgent action by the government to take home-grown food production and security more seriously.

‘Tip of the iceberg’

Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association, said the current fruit and veg shortages are “the tip of the iceberg”.

He added: “Supermarkets could soon experience shortages of carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, onions and leeks within weeks as a result of crops being compromised by the 2022 drought and other weather factors.

“The future of British apple and pear growing is also on a knife-edge as growers are being forced to rip up orchards due to rising costs and stagnant prices.

“The current situation has highlighted just how fragile our fresh produce supplies can be, particularly in the face of volatile weather. This could have a knock-on effect on the security of future supplies.”

Robert Beaumont, an AHDB Monitor Farmer and agronomist based in Herefordshire, uploaded a photo on Twitter of apple trees pulled out on his neighbour’s farm, with the caption: “It might be tomatoes now. But it’ll be British apples this time next year. #BrokenMarket.”

Apple trees pulled out in orchard © British Apples and Pears

Horticulture strategy

The NFU this week published a new UK horticulture growth strategy and issued a rallying call to the government to put “warm words into actions” and invest in horticulture.

The union has been warning the government for months about the dangers of undervaluing the domestic horticulture sector.

NFU president Minette Batters said there are “real risks” empty shelves will become commonplace if the government fails to act now to address the soaring energy and labour costs faced by British horticulture businesses.

Liz Webster, spokesperson for Save British Farming, said: “No farming sector is immune from collapse. We need an urgent Cobra approach to save our food security.”

Crisis talks

Defra farming minister Mark Spencer held crisis talks with representatives of major UK retailers on Monday (27 February).

He later insisted the food supply chain is “extremely resilient”, and retailers and farmers were working hard to keep the nation fed.

Mr Spencer has asked retailers to “look again” at how they work with farmers and buy fruit and vegetables “so they can further build our preparedness for these unexpected incidents”.

Independent agricultural economist Sean Rickard said: “As far as I’m concerned, the government has no food production strategy – and I emphasise the word ‘production’.

“Post-Brexit, they expected to import more of our food. But as recent events are demonstrating, this is a failing policy.”