Overview
- Lea Valley and West Sussex growers say energy and haulage spikes could force early shutdowns within weeks, risking gaps in supplies of cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and aubergines.
- Input costs have surged, with BoilerJuice data showing red diesel jumping from 79.44p to 131.26p per litre between 1 and 12 March alongside rising wholesale gas and transport bills.
- NFU president Tom Bradshaw warns of the biggest food‑price spike since 2022, forecasting immediate import hikes, around six‑week rises of about 15% for glasshouse salads, and broader increases by autumn.
- Growers urge supermarkets to revisit last year’s fixed-price deals and pay more to cover production costs as the NFU confirms it has met Defra to discuss food resilience.
- Ministers are weighing responses, with a land‑use plan set to commit to maintaining overall food production, the CMA monitoring potential profiteering, and officials working with allies on reopening Hormuz as shipping detours push up import costs.