Fruit & vegetable crops are slowing or entering a dormant state as the continued heatwave causes a host of issues for growers.
Nationwide Produce has warned that in addition to growth issues, irrigation is under increasing pressure, harvesting windows are becoming shorter, and plants are under stress due to the continued heatwave.
The major produce supplier and grower warned that while there were four heatwaves last year, this year heatwaves are longer, with a record nine days of temperature reaching 34°C or higher.
“At this point in the season, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and Tenderstem broccoli would normally be growing quickly and moving through the fields in significant volumes,” the supplier said. “Instead, sustained high temperatures are causing some crops to slow down or shut down altogether.”
This is causing issues regarding appearance and size, which the supplier said would require more flexibility around specifications.
“British growers are resilient, and they are working incredibly hard to maintain supply in very difficult conditions,” said Tim O’Malley, chairman of Nationwide Produce. “We need the whole industry to support them by being more flexible around specifications and recognising that produce may naturally vary in size, shape or appearance during periods of extreme weather.
“That does not make it any less suitable or enjoyable.”
He called for “sensible adjustments” to be made where possible to “recognise the hard work behind every crop”.
The supplier also warned that heat was changing how crops could be harvested as the conditions mean workers cannot keep harvesting throughout the day, “leaving growers with a much shorter window in which to bring crops in”.
“The challenge is not simply one exceptionally hot day – it is the cumulative effect of sustained heat, dry soils and limited opportunities to replenish water supplies,” said Mark Nundy, managing director at Windy Ridge Veg.
Growers have repeated concerns that water is a “defining challenge” and while many have invested heavily in reservoirs and irrigation systems, it is not an easy fix.
“Growers are continually adapting and investing, but we need meaningful action from government,” added Nundy. “That means support for farm reservoirs and efficient irrigation, greater flexibility around water abstraction and longer-term investment in regional water infrastructure.”
Beyond brassicas, the soft fruit season has also been unpredictable according to Nationwide Produce with growers moving between period of oversupply and tighter availability as crops have ripened in less consistent flushes.
There are also concerns around potato and onion crops, both of which experience slower growth during hotter periods.
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