After potatoes, carrots, and other crops were devastated by a lack of rainfall, farmers have warned that fruit and vegetables may be smaller and seem different this winter.
Wide areas of England have been officially declared to be experiencing a drought, and experts have warned that the produce will be smaller and less up to par for food on store shelves.
Along with common foods like potatoes, carrots, and onions, it is believed that apples and Brussels sprouts would likely suffer the most damage.
The National Farmers Union is now running a push to get shops to stock more “wonky” veggies that, despite their odd appearance, nonetheless taste great.
Consumers have been trained to think that a potato looks a specific way, according to Tom Bradshaw, vice president of the NFU, who spoke to the BBC. We must put less emphasis on outward looks.
There are worries that the intense heat will have impacted thousands of farmers’ production.
Tim Young is one of those who was impacted. Tim Young encouraged folks to come down and remove any of the 40 tonnes of onions that had been harmed by downy mildew and high temperatures.
Part of his crops were affected by fusarium rot, a sort of fungus that causes produce to rot within, as a result of the recent hot weather.
Because of the chance that the tiny percentage of sick onions might infect the healthy ones, he was unable to store the onions.
The present scenario is unlikely to get better, even with a considerable quantity of rain over the autumn, according to experts.
The most recent severe drought to affect the UK occurred in 2018, which had an effect on crops, grass, feed, and animals as well as raising grocery store prices.
Staffing shortages and the conflict in Ukraine might also have an impact on shop shelves.
According to the National Farmers’ Union, millions of veggies would go unpicked and harvests worth £60 million will go to waste.