Difficult growing conditions have led agriculture industry experts to warn that consumers should expect shortages of winter veggies in the days leading up to Christmas, especially in the United Kingdom.
Crop production has been hampered by poor weather and devastating floods, officials say, which will undoubtedly result in fewer commodities available for grocery store shelves this holiday season.
Supermarket managers in the UK have said they could be forced to import some traditional Christmas meal staples, such as potatoes and sprouts, "while homegrown carrots will be smaller because of difficult growing conditions," The Guardian reported.
Some chain stores say they will import a lot
In addition, the amount of cauliflower is unpredictable, and store managers will most likely have to also import red cabbage beginning in April, the paper said.
The British Growers Association, an industry-owned agricultural organization, said early crop projections suggest that there will be one-fifth fewer Brussels sprouts in the coming year as well, primarily because of poor weather. Also, the group said, parsnip crops have underperformed.
"Potatoes have suffered from both the summer drought - which can lead to discoloration - and the deluge of rain," the paper said, "which has made them hard to harvest." Heavy recent rainfall; however, has worsened the situation across Great Britain by stunting the growth of sprout plants, many of which are now rotting away.
Figures from national British supermarket chain Morrisons, based on data supplied by farmers, say the sprout crop is down by about one-third across the board and will probably force retailers to import sprouts. Still, the chain says it is prepared to offer 100 percent British sprouts this Christmas season.
Difficult growing conditions have led agriculture industry experts to warn that consumers should expect shortages of winter veggies in the days leading up to Christmas, especially in the United Kingdom.
Crop production has been hampered by poor weather and devastating floods, officials say, which will undoubtedly result in fewer commodities available for grocery store shelves this holiday season.
Supermarket managers in the UK have said they could be forced to import some traditional Christmas meal staples, such as potatoes and sprouts, "while homegrown carrots will be smaller because of difficult growing conditions," The Guardian reported.
Some chain stores say they will import a lot
In addition, the amount of cauliflower is unpredictable, and store managers will most likely have to also import red cabbage beginning in April, the paper said.
The British Growers Association, an industry-owned agricultural organization, said early crop projections suggest that there will be one-fifth fewer Brussels sprouts in the coming year as well, primarily because of poor weather. Also, the group said, parsnip crops have underperformed.
"Potatoes have suffered from both the summer drought - which can lead to discoloration - and the deluge of rain," the paper said, "which has made them hard to harvest." Heavy recent rainfall; however, has worsened the situation across Great Britain by stunting the growth of sprout plants, many of which are now rotting away.
Figures from national British supermarket chain Morrisons, based on data supplied by farmers, say the sprout crop is down by about one-third across the board and will probably force retailers to import sprouts. Still, the chain says it is prepared to offer 100 percent British sprouts this Christmas season.
Era of cheap food is over.
Naturalnews.com
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