There are fears of substantial leek shortages as the British season officially started this week, with the combination of cold and wet weather expected to shorten supply and increase prices.

Hammond Produce, which supplies several supermarkets, said the leek crop is currently around three weeks behind schedule.

Philip Lilley, director at Hammond Produce, said: “Due to the lower light levels we’re about three weeks behind in our growing cycle and growers are hoping for a mild winter and early spring to help leeks achieve their potential.”

However, Lilley admitted that a mild winter is looking unlikely at the moment.

“With temperatures currently at eight to 10 degrees as we go into November this is looking less likely; but with the right weather conditions in the New Year and into the spring we will see better growth and improvement in leek yields.”

The situation is similar for Lincolnshire-based grower Tim Casey of J&V Casey & Son, who predicted availability of leeks will be tight across the winter months. “Following poor growth over the summer and autumn, crop quality is good, but leeks are small in size so yields will be down this season. “

Casey echoed Lilley’s assessment that the next few weeks are crucial for growers to determine volume.

“This is difficult to predict now as it will depend on whether the winter is very cold or mild, but availability is going to be tight,” he added.

The NFU revealed in July, in its Catalyst for Change report, that self-sufficiency for the UK leek crop had fallen by 8.4 per cent in the last decade, with production down 8.5 per cent, and it currently lists the crop as “at risk”.

Some 40,500 tonnes of leeks were produced in the UK in 2010, according to DEFRA figures. But consumption of the product has been on the rise in the UK, with 54,500 tonnes consumed in 2010, an increase of 1.8 per cent on a decade earlier.

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