August M
Everyone loves a sunny day when they can relax in the garden.
The trouble begins when the heat refuses to break. Before long, you may notice the true cost of that sunshine at the grocery store, reports the BBC.
A dry reality
The UK is baking under severe summer heat. Over half of England is now officially facing drought conditions, according to the Environment Agency.
Supermarket fridges are working overtime. But the British Retail Consortium warns the extreme weather could force prices up across the board.
A single sunny week is not the issue. “One week of hot weather will not make a loaf of bread more expensive,” says Professor Manoj Dora from Anglia Ruskin University, as reported by the BBC.
Animals and crops
The real danger lies at the very start of the food journey. If farmers run out of crops, the ripple effect hits everything else.
“We may see that meat, milk, eggs, and chicken will be impacted by [a lack of] animal feed,” Dora explains. He adds a stark warning. “Across different food products, prices could surge if we do not manage these things immediately.”
British farmers are already adapting to their earliest harvest in fifty years. The spring was incredibly dry, shifting schedules completely.
Who pays the price
Simon Willis of the grain co-operative Camgrain told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire that crops fell short. “This year’s very dry harvest will mean that the quality will be good but the yield will be down,” he says.
Some farmers believe they will bear the financial hit, rather than everyday shoppers. Arable farmer David Wheatley notes that supermarkets lock in contracts early.
He says, “A lot of contracts with supermarkets are already agreed a year in advance, so [farmers] are not going to get paid any more money even though their yields are down this year.”
Looking for alternatives
Wheatley doubts shop prices will rise much, suggesting supermarkets will simply buy from abroad.
Yet relying on imports is not a perfect fix. Heatwaves have hammered France as well. “Wine has not just a quantity problem, but also a quality problem,” Dora says.
Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium notes that shops can handle these hurdles. He says, “Retailers are experienced in managing supply disruptions and will take all necessary steps, including sourcing from alternative suppliers where appropriate, to minimise any impact on customers.”
Sources: BBC, Environment Agency, British Retail Consortium, Anglia Ruskin University, Camgrain, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
