Consumer Expert Shares £1.45 Gardening Hack To Beat Fruit & Veg Shortage
- Brits are being impacted by another shortage - this time, fruit and veg
- Consumer Expert Tom Church recommends growing your own to bypass the crisis
- Seed packets cost just £1.45 and you can currently buy one get one free
UK shoppers have recently been hit by the news that there is a shortage of fruit and veg, and major shopping brands such as ASDA, Aldi and Morrisons are limiting purchases of selected items.
The shortage is the latest crisis to hit the UK economy, with the rising cost of food and energy bills still an ongoing problem across the country. Tom Church, Co-Founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘UK supermarkets have been struggling with various food shortage issues in the last few years. While this has been a difficult time, the experience also means we can make some predictions about how the current shortage will pan out.
‘In 2020, Brexit fears led to shoppers stockpiling food, and this fear was exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Everyone remembers going to their local supermarket and finding it impossible to pick up loo roll and other essentials!
‘A year later, supermarkets had empty shelves again due to lorry driver shortages, which were in part due to the knock-on effect of Brexit. Last year, we saw shortages of sunflower seeds and other similar products as the war in Ukraine began impacting the supply chain. There was also a lack of eggs, which is an ongoing issue due to Avian flu.
‘Farmers have been warning us about upcoming fruit and veg shortages for a long time. They’ve predicted it will happen due to factors such as labour shortages, rising energy costs and supermarkets implementing loss-making prices.
‘It won’t be easy to tackle these issues. Even with a predicted decrease in energy prices this year, and the warmer weather coming up which means farmers won’t need to use as much of it, there are some bigger factors at play. For example, the war in Ukraine and lack of alternative power sources are not issues which can be fixed overnight.
‘Plus, recent Government research indicates that labour shortages have been impacted by people being ill more and retiring early since the pandemic began. There is a new seasonal worker visa on the way, but it won’t lead to an improvement in circumstances until later this year.
‘Shoppers who are looking for a way to bypass the latest shortage should look into growing their own. Now is the perfect time to begin planning what you’ll grow, as most vegetables are planted between March and May. Instead of seeing empty shelves in the fruit and veg aisles, why not head to Homebase and pick up some seeds instead?
‘There’s currently an offer on Mr Fothergill’s seeds at the moment, where you can buy one get one free. Prices start at just £1.45, so you can save a lot of money - and control the level of produce you get - by investing your time and effort in growing your own.
‘There’s loads to choose from, including lettuce, carrots, cress, cauliflower, kale, leeks and runner beans.
‘If you don’t have access to a garden, you can still grow certain veg. For example, spinach, kale, rocket and mustard greens can be grown on a windowsill that receives plenty of sunlight.
‘You can also apply for an allotment so that you can grow fruit and veg outdoors. Go to your local council website to find out more. You’ll usually have to fill in an application form, then wait to hear back.
‘Allotments are generally quite affordable - just make sure you allocate time to regularly go down there and keep on top of the watering and weeding.’
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