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Shoppers feel crunch as price of produce climbs

Genevieve MullenEssex
Reuters A woman with long dark hair wears a black hat while walking through a supermarket. She looks at the selection of cucumbers on offer.Reuters
The conflict in the Middle East is having an impact on food prices in the UK

Everyday salad items are becoming more expensive as the US-Israel war with Iran continues to cause disruption.

Consumers in the UK and other countries are seeing higher prices for staple items such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

Analysts said the increases are being driven largely by a sharp rise in energy costs, following disruption to oil and gas supplies in the Middle East.

Higher fuel prices have made it more expensive to heat glasshouses, where many local crops are grown, adding to the pressure on producers.

Rising costs

Fresh produce is particularly vulnerable to rising costs because it depends on rapid, temperature‑controlled supply chains.

Higher fuel prices have increased the cost of transporting and refrigerating perishable foods.

Wholesale prices for some fruits and vegetables have already risen sharply, and industry figures have reported significant increases for certain items in recent weeks.

Lea Valley Growers’ Association A bright red pepper hangs from a green leafy plant.Lea Valley Growers’ Association
Over 100 million peppers are grown in Essex every year

More than 80 million cucumbers and about 100 million peppers are grown each year in the Lea Valley, in west Essex, making it one of the UK's most important suppliers.

Jimmy Russo, president of the Lea Valley Growers' Association and co‑owner of Valley Grown Salads near Harlow, said costs have "rocketed".

He said the price of gas, used to heat greenhouses, had increased by about 90%, while the cost of fertiliser, needed to feed crops, had also surged.

Before the increases, Russo said his business already spent about £1m a year on gas alone.

"These increases are not sustainable," he said. "It's absolutely frightening".

Lea Valley Growers’ Association A large greenhouse with a display of green crops are lined on a large hydroponics system.Lea Valley Growers’ Association
Higher fuel prices have made it more expensive to heat greenhouses

Russo warned that financial support would be needed if the UK was to maintain a sustainable domestic crop industry.

He said: "We have a brilliant tomato industry. We're growing 30 acres on the Essex-Herts border - cucumbers, peppers, aubergines.

"The crop is one of the best you'll find in the world. But, unless we get financial help, this model is not sustainable".

Lea Valley Growers’ Association A drone shot of the land surrounding the Lea Valley Growers’ Association. The image shows large greenhouses surrounded by lakes and grassland.Lea Valley Growers’ Association
The Lea Valley is known as the cucumber capital of the UK

The longer‑term outlook remains uncertain. The Food and Drink Federation said that even if the conflict were to ease in the coming weeks, the impact on costs would persist.

It added that it expects UK food inflation to reach at least 9% before the end of the year, which could mean higher prices and reduced availability of some salad items in supermarkets.

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