Now the British are being warned about shortages of apples and pears
With Britain already hit by salad shortages, shoppers are being warned there could be a shortage of apples and pears by August.
Experts say a perfect storm of frost, rising production costs and skinflint retailers are forcing farmers to ditch their orchards.
It comes after supermarkets put tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers on rations due to supply shortages.
Eight in 10 apple and pear growers are said to have stopped investing in their farms, with the trade association British Apples & Pears warning that growers have planted a million fewer trees than usual this year.
Only 300,000 have been planted and growers are expecting the worst crisis since the Great Storm flattened orchards in 1987.
Eight in 10 apple and pear growers are said to have stopped investing in their farms, with the trade association British Apples & Pears warning growers have planted a million fewer trees than usual this year
Unusually severe chills this month will slow the growth of many fruits and vegetables, causing them to hit shelves weeks later.
The Met Office said the coming week will bring the coldest day of the year, with snow flurries and temperatures dropping to -4C (25F).
Some apple and pear growers have stopped growing the fruit after costs rose 25 percent in a year due to higher energy and labor bills, while supermarkets increased the amount they paid by just 1 percent.
Retailers also adhere to ruthless size specifications, which has resulted in millions of apples going rotten, with many purchasing cheaper apples even from Chile.
Ali Capper of British Apples & Pears added: ‘A minority has had enough. They don’t see how to make a profit.
‘A big problem is that supermarkets refuse to buy apples that are a few millimeters outside the specified size. It’s crazy.’
