ANGRY Cumbrian producers warn the shortages of some fruit and vegetables in UK supermarkets could be the 'tip of the iceberg'.

They say a reliance on imports has left the country vulnerable to 'shock weather events'.

Robert Craig, Cumbrian farmer and vice-chair of farmers’ dairy co-operative, First Milk, said the current situation around the reduced availability of some salad products is a symptom of a bigger problem often referred to 'as our broken food system'. “The harder we push the marginal economics of the food system the closer it gets to breaking down, taking just a freak weather event, a hike in energy prices or a shortage in labour to see shortages on supermarket shelves.”

As Britain entered a third week of shortages of salad items, the government told big supermarket groups on Monday, including Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and now Lidl, to re-examine their relationships with farmers and to reveal 'what they were doing to get shelves stocked again'.

The supermarkets have been limiting customer purchase limits on tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers after supplies across the supermarket sector were hit by disrupted harvests in southern Europe and North Africa due to unseasonable weather. Since last autumn, consumers have faced egg shortages after high costs and low farmgate prices forced producers to scale back production.

Farm chiefs claim soaring energy bills exacerbated by the war in Ukraine have also put off some UK vegetable growers.

Cumbrian MP, Tim Farron accused Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey of being out of touch with British farmers and consumers when she denied there were any problems when photos of bare supermarket shelves were revealed on social media. “The Conservatives are preparing to slash energy support from farms in April, they’re already cutting existing support payments when the new scheme is not ready and have frankly failed to deal with the outbreak of avian flu - they clearly can’t be trusted with farmer’s livelihoods. All the while this failure is likely to increase food prices even more, in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“We need to see continued energy bill support for farm businesses beyond April, a halt to the phase out of existing payments until Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes is full rolled out and a Secretary of State who actually understood the hardships farmers are facing across the country.”

Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) chief executive, George Dunn said the current crisis had come about due to the country's reliance upon meeting demand for fresh produce from imports: “A major part of that problem is that retailers have been allowed to get away with not providing farmers and growers with a fair price which adequately covers costs of production. Understandably, many farmers and growers have decided not to supply the market.”

Mr Dunn went on to say: “The Secretary of State’s response to genuine concerns about the lack of availability of some salad products was both dismissive and trivialised the importance of the underlying problems existing in our food supply system. Whilst there is sense in having a greater degree of seasonal consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, the Government has no plan for how that can be supported. The Secretary of State dangerously downplays the market failures that exist within the system. The concentration of power within the retailers, issues around labour shortages, cost spikes including for energy and the inability of passing those costs down the chain and the problems caused by short-term tenancy agreements providing a lack of incentive for adequate investment all need to be tackled.

“British consumers have got used to year-round availability of products on supermarket shelves and recent shortages should raise important alarm bells about the need to focus more appropriately on ensuring the long-term food security of our nation.”

Adam Day, managing director of The Farmer Network, based in the Eden Valley said: “For too long now the farming industry across many sectors has tried to reason with government that we need to be producing more food rather than less in the UK. Achieving important environmental goals will be more successful working with viable and sustainable farm businesses.

“Global food supply chain issues are only going to get worse in future, yet government continues to focus almost entirely on environment rather than a healthy balance between farm production and conservation. Both are equally important.”

Cumbria YFC county chair, Robbie Tuer, hit out at government, saying they should consider the importance of British farmers across all sectors, from dairy to beef, from aquaculture to soft fruit and vegetable producers.

He said: “The only reason shelves are falling empty, of, for example say fruit and vegetables is the mainly offshore sourced products not being available due to their weather conditions and rising costs. There is little on shelves from the UK in any supermarket….and surely we must ask ’why is this?’. I have visited a local store one evening this week to find broccoli from Spain, cabbage from France, green beans from Morocco and salad leaves from across Europe…..all items that British farmers can produce in the winter months (in one way or another)….and taste ten times better than the imports! Trying to find something that is produced in Britain is becoming ever more difficult and farmers really are facing a huge uphill struggle.

“It’s time for government to prioritise our food, farming and rural affairs…but like always, we will not stop being lied to or deceived by government, British broadcasting or tabloid newspapers.”

National Farmers Union (NFU) president Minette Batters warned the government that other sectors could soon be under threat by a lack of fairness for farmers and growers throughout the supply chain. She added there were real risks empty shelves will become commonplace unless the government takes urgent action.

Mr Craig added that long-term, beneficial relationships were essential to build strength and resilience in the country's food system. “Farmers and processors increasingly hold the answers retailers need, from reducing scope three emissions to offsetting logistics. It’s taken a long while but we’re now seeing great performance from UK dairy cooperatives, the direct relationship with producers though a well governed and efficient cooperative is highly attractive for retailers and something the UK needs more of is coops As world population and affluence grows the demand placed on the global food system is set to massively increase while also needing to operate under ever tighter environmental constraints. These challenges lead in one direction and that’s towards higher food prices, not a comfortable position if you’re a politician looking to get elected but non the less the future reality.”