FREEZING temperatures in the east of Spain have lead to a dearth of vegetables on shelves in UK supermarkets – and prices rocketing for the few that are left.
Popular grocery chain Tesco said the violent storms, torrential rain and snow in the Comunidad Valenciana and Murcia had created 'a few availability issues' for staples such as courgettes, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, broccoli and peppers, but that the store was 'working with its suppliers' to 'resolve the problem as soon as possible'.
This appears to be rather an understatement, given that production falls on the Mediterranean and in Andalucía have plummeted – combined with thick snows and freezing climates in Italy, another salad-growing hotspot – meaning practically none of the vegetables from these areas are being restocked.
And UK supermarkets import over 50% of their vegetables and 90% of their fruit at any time of year.
The supply problem is not just a temporary issue caused by the current extreme winter weather in Spain – crops planted just before the cold snap are now unlikely to flourish, meaning even a national shortage, which will translated to an even greater scarcity for the UK.
And at the moment, with vegetables being in short supply in British shops, prices have soared on those few which remain on sale.
According to a Brussels-based fresh food forum which has studied supermarket prices in the UK in recent days, the average cost of vegetables imported from Spain has gone up by between 25% and 40%.
Had this happened a year ago, the price hike may not have been so steep, with exchange rates hovering at around €1.40 to the pound.
But since the Brexit referendum result, the pound's value has ranged from lows of €1.09 to highs of €1.23.
It is predicted to take another dive in March 2017 when British prime minister Theresa May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, starting the clock ticking on the UK's two-year deadline to leave the European Union.
