Shoppers feel crunch as price of produce climbs

Shoppers feel crunch as price of produce climbs7 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGenevieve MullenEssexReutersThe conflict in the Middle East is having an impact on food prices in the UKEveryday salad items are becoming more expensive as the US-Israel war with Iran continues to cause disruption.Consumers in the UK and other countries are seeing higher prices for staple items such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.Analysts said the increases are being driven largely by a sharp rise in energy costs, following disruption to oil and gas supplies in the Middle East.Higher fuel prices have made it more expensive to heat glasshouses, where many local crops are grown, adding to the pressure on producers.Rising costsFresh produce is particularly vulnerable to rising costs because it depends on rapid, temperature‑controlled supply chains.Higher fuel prices have increased the cost of transporting and refrigerating perishable foods.Wholesale prices for some fruits and vegetables have already risen sharply, and industry figures have reported significant increases for certain items in recent weeks.Lea Valley Growers’ AssociationOver 100 million peppers are grown in Essex every yearMore than 80 million cucumbers and about 100 million peppers are grown each year in the Lea Valley, in west Essex, making it one of the UK's most important suppliers.Jimmy Russo, president of the Lea Valley Growers' Association and co‑owner of Valley Grown Salads near Harlow, said costs have "rocketed".He said the price of gas, used to heat greenhouses, had increased by about 90%, while the cost of fertiliser, needed to feed crops, had also surged.Before the increases, Russo said his had business already spent about £1m a year on gas alone."These increases are not sustainable," he said. "It's absolutely frightening".Lea Valley Growers’ AssociationHigher fuel prices have made it more expensive to heat greenhousesFinancial supportRusso warned that...