British fruit and vegetable growers warn of empty supermarket shelves due to Iran war

"Growers are in the same position now as they were when Russia invaded Ukraine, because the wholesale gas prices are creeping up. With rising costs, many growers are thinking they might as well send the staff home, stop for the season and not produce anything. They're going to have to make a decision in the next few weeks as to whether or not it's going to be economic to continue for the rest of the year."

British fruit and vegetable growers are confronting a severe crisis as energy and transportation costs surge due to international conflicts, particularly affecting glasshouse operations. The Lea Valley Growers Association, representing 70 UK glasshouse growers including major cucumber producers, warns that many producers may end their seasons early. Rising wholesale gas prices mirror the challenges faced during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Industry leaders indicate growers must decide within weeks whether continuing operations remains economically viable. Without intervention, many producers may halt production entirely and send staff home rather than operate at unsustainable costs, potentially resulting in empty supermarket shelves.

Read at www.independent.co.uk