Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage has stopped growing due to hot, dry conditions, and available produce is smaller in size and weight, according to BGA
Prolonged extreme heat and a lack of rain is “proving to be a disaster” for British brassica crops, as well as affecting plantings for winter, according to the Brassica Growers Association (BGA).
“Fields of broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage have now stopped growing and have become dormant, while available produce is smaller in size and weight, with the likelihood of crops bolting before reaching maturity,” the trade body reported.
“It’s heartbreaking to see valuable crops perish in the ground, heaping yet more pressure on growers already experiencing increasing costs and poor returns.”
With the weather forecast offering little immediate hope, this situation will continue until cooler weather and significant rainfall arrives, the crop association added.
The picture is the same across Europe, with temperatures reaching over 40°C, meaning there is no contingency for British shoppers.
BGA chairman Peter Durose said the situation is “worse than last year and is now having an impact on plantings for winter’’.
John Walgate, CEO of the British Growers Association, added: “We’re in the middle of a Defra sector growth plan for horticulture, which we so desperately need.
“Food security really does need to mean national security if we are to protect our domestic growers. Sensible water management is near the top of the list for every crop, and we hope to see some action to help alleviate these problems in the future.’’
Brassicas are not the only crops affected by this summer’s record-breaking conditions. There have also been reports of cucumber shortages at UK supermarkets, volatile British berry supply, the potential for lower yield and crop sizes in potatoes and onions, and “catastrophic” losses in a range of French vegetables.
