Brexit has also fuelled the crisis, with transport companies reluctant to come to the UK because of the paperwork and logistics involved, as well as the visas they need for their drivers. Additionally, growers in Morocco are faced with a 3.5% duty on imports to the UK, which will rise to 5.7% in July. Meanwhile, to send their produce to the EU in the winter, they don’t have to pay any duty.
The crisis is compounded by the fact that in Europe, supermarkets set prices weekly, so if the market is short, they will pay the higher prices. However, British supermarkets set a price for the whole season and are reluctant to increase it, meaning they end up missing out on the produce. Additionally, huge hikes in energy prices have had a massive impact on growers like Steve and Morna, whose cost of keeping gas boilers going to heat their four cucumber nurseries has risen threefold since last year. Some have been hit even harder, with 20 of the 80 growers in the association shutting down completely, unable to cope with the rising prices of oil and electricity, as well as transport costs, diesel and packaging.
Overall, this crisis highlights the importance of supermarkets listening to growers’ concerns and adjusting prices accordingly. Additionally, the impact of Brexit and rising energy prices needs to be addressed to avoid similar issues in the future.
