‘Worst we’ve known’: UK turns to imports as drought and heat hit vegetable crops
UK food businesses are importing vegetables from Spain and elsewhere during the domestic growing season after drought and extreme heat sharply reduced British crop yields. The disruption is pushing up wholesale prices and raising concerns about food security, water shortages and the resilience of UK farming to increasingly severe weather.
Tomato wholesale prices have risen by more than 60%, iceberg lettuce by 90% and potatoes by over 40%, while broccoli yields have reportedly halved and the English pea harvest is down by a third. Growers say irrigation supplies are running low, and more than 100 food-sector organisations have urged the government to prioritise food security and reduce reliance on imports; cauliflower shortages may follow within weeks.
- Heat and drought are cutting UK vegetable yields.
- Wholesale prices for several crops have risen sharply.
- Import reliance is growing during the British season.
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Britain grows a range of vegetables in summer, including tomatoes, lettuce, peas, broccoli and potatoes. Farms depend on rainfall and, in drier periods, water stored in rivers, reservoirs or underground supplies for irrigation.
Drought is a prolonged lack of rain, while extreme heat can damage plants and reduce the amount or quality of a harvest. When British supplies fall, supermarkets, wholesalers and food manufacturers can buy produce from other countries, particularly European growers with crops available at the same time.
Food security means having reliable access to enough affordable food. The situation also highlights questions about how farmers, water companies and government should prepare for more frequent periods of hot, dry weather, while balancing the needs of farming, households and the environment.
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The case for
Those urging a stronger domestic food-security strategy argue that relying on imports during the British growing season exposes consumers and businesses to foreign weather shocks, transport disruption and price volatility. They contend that government should treat reliable water supplies, reservoirs, irrigation infrastructure and climate-resilient farming as strategic investments, helping growers maintain production and protect rural livelihoods as extreme weather becomes more frequent.
The case against
Others argue that imports are an important and sensible part of a resilient food system, allowing retailers and caterers to keep supplies available when local harvests are damaged. They may caution that pursuing greater self-sufficiency at any cost could require expensive infrastructure, higher food prices or environmentally damaging water use, and argue instead for diversified international sourcing alongside targeted support for British growers and longer-term adaptation.
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