Drought to spark potato shortage and could push up price of crisps and chips
Britain faces a potato shortage this summer if low rainfall persists in the south of England, according to a new forecast.
Any shortfall will lead to higher prices for chips, crisps and bags of potatoes.
Other vegetables including carrots, onions, cauliflowers, broccoli and lettuce are also threatened by the lack of the rain, and higher prices in the shops will add pressure to already-squeezed family budgets.
Prices for chips, crisps and bags of potatoes may increase if low rainfall continues
Dire problems affecting fresh food supplies this year are included in a ‘drought prospects’ report to be published by the Environment Agency on Tuesday.
Officials will appeal to the public to stop squandering vital water supplies to ensure there is a sufficient amount to grow crops.
Peter Kendall, of the National Farmers’ Union, said: ‘Some growers have cut back on planting by 20 per cent. But are the water companies using their supplies sparingly? Are consumers? Are golf courses still being watered? We should not be throwing water around with a gung-ho attitude.’
Two inches of rain fell in the South last week but it was not enough. Water levels at Ardingly and Bewl reservoirs, which supply households in the South-East, remain exceptionally low. While supplies in the North, Scotland and Wales are plentiful, hosepipe bans in London, the South and the Midlands are expected within weeks.
Helen Vale, the Environment Agency’s drought co-ordinator, said: ‘Everyone must play their part by using water wisely.’
I grow my own, and there’s no drought in my garden. Sounds like just another excuse to put up prices.
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I used to eat crisps nearly every day (I know, bad for me, but I like a ‘crunch’) but when the prices started to rocket some time way back, I would stand and look at a packet of crisps and ask myself, can I really afford to spend £1.48 on 6 small packets of crisps which aren’t any good for me? I answered myself with a ‘NO’. I now buy red peppers as a substitute, healthier and still with a crunch. Not any cheaper but better overall health value. So, any price increases in crisps may well do that industry as much harm, as their product does to us.
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During one of the ‘potato famines’, possible the one that happened around 15 years ago my local fish and chip shop displayed a notice to the effect that the cost of potatoes had gone up by £12.00 per ton. That equates to 0.536p per pound !
How many pounds of potatoes does it take to make a portion of chips ?
The chips actually went up by well over 10p per portion !!
Allen
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i remember when a bag of chips were a ” tanner”. how much now £1.50,were i live.
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No worries never eat potatoes to full of starch..
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There will be plenty of water in the south when the olympics start.
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What rubbish – there’s been loads of rain down south, this is just another excuse to put up prices. Crisps this time last year were £1 a pack of 6, now they’re £2.48 – so what’s the reason for that? This is just pure greed. Time to boycott and all grow our own – you can easily grow spuds in an upright container.
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I remember years ago, a chinese chippy near me used to sell ‘Big Chips’ and ‘Small Chips’ – based on portion size. We had another so-called ‘potato shortage’ (caused solely by farmers stocking them up until the price rose) The chippy put a notice up saying ‘Until further notice No More Big Chips’. Of course, everyone then asked for two ‘small chips’ until the ‘shortage’ was over
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Let them eat bread.
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OMG what will i have for my tea 7 nights a week, ……FRUIT !!
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