'Perfect storm' of bad weather wipes out vegetables in Europe – and it’s set to send the price of lettuce, broccoli and peppers soaring in UK supermarkets
THE price of vegetables in UK supermarkets could be set to soar after bad weather in Europe devastated crops.
Flooding, plummeting temperatures and poor light are said to have created a “perfect storm” of bad growing conditions.
Spain’s south-eastern Murcia region – estimated to supply a massive 80 per cent of the continent’s fresh produce in winter – has experienced the heaviest rainfall seen in 30 years.
Italy, which normally exports vegetables at this time of year, is being forced to import after unusually cold temperatures took their toll on crops.
And the Spanish regions of Andalusia and Valencia have also seen a dramatic dip in production.
Philippe Binard, of produce industry forum Freshfel Europe, told the BBC the problems crippling agriculture were unprecedented.
Production levels of some crops had dropped by as much as 25 per cent, with prices rising by between 25 and 40 per cent, he said.
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Courgettes, aubergines, peppers, broccoli and lettuces have all been impacted, with UK shoppers likely to see a knock-on effect.
Prices in British supermarkets are now predicted to soar as the supply of these vegetables is choked off.
A Tesco spokesman admitted to the BBC that bad weather in Spain had caused "in a few availability issues", but said the company was working with suppliers to find solutions.
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