UK NEWS

SALAD DAYS FEAR AS TOMATOES ROCKET 25%

RED WARNING: Tomatoes set to soar

Tuesday May 13,2008

By Martyn Brown

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THE price of tomatoes is expected to soar by 25 per cent, producers warned yesterday.

Crippling fuel and fertiliser costs mean shoppers face a hefty hike in the price of the nation’s favourite salad food.

It could see the average cost of a packet of six tomatoes rocketing through the £1 barrier. Rising gas and oil bills have added millions of pounds to the cost of heating the glasshouses where millions of British tomatoes are grown.

*** SOARING FOOD AND FUEL PRICES HAVE HAVE SENT INFLATION SURGING ***

The warning sparked fears that the country’s tomato farmers could be forced out of business. Producers on the Channel Island of Jersey – where fuel import costs are higher and there is no combined heat and power infrastructure – may be the first to quit.

William Church, director of the Jersey Produce Marketing Association, warned yesterday that a 25 per cent increase in the retail price was needed to bring back profitability.

“We are not making a profit,” he said. “I am certain growers are considering quitting.”

*** CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DAILY EXPRESS' COST OF LIVING INDEX ***

A spokesman for the British Tomato Growers’ Association said the squeeze was being felt across the sector.

“We need prices that reflect the freshness, food safety and nutrition content,” he said.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, fewer than 20 per cent of tomatoes sold in supermarkets are now produced in Britain.

Britain’s £150million tomato industry produces around 75,000 tons each year. Some 420,000 tons are eaten by Britons every year, equivalent to 100 tomatoes per person.

Yesterday it also emerged that the UK soft fruit industry was in crisis due to a fall in numbers of immigrant workers. Many are leaving Britain as financial conditions worsen.

Farmers warned that strawberries and raspberries worth millions could be left to rot.

Last year a similar dip in workers saw £20million worth of the fruits withering but experts fear even greater losses this year.

FOR MAGGIE

14.05.08, 1:14am

Think you are on to something there maggie,
Everything natural has been stopped by the EU,
Its all mixed fertilizer now, and our plants will suffer, wilt and die.
Our natural plants will be hard to grow in our gardens, because they will be out numberd, with fertilizer that is not up to par.
I went to the garden centre, the other day, and it was very hard to find traditional english cottage garden plants,
I BLAME NULABOUR,

• Posted by: supernova • Report Comment

CANNOT BEAT FRESH GROWN

13.05.08, 11:17pm

This year I have turned over my usual flower tubs to vegetable containers,carrots,beetroot and spring onions doing well,tomato plants go in next and whatever else I fancy, do not want too many all at once so the tubs will do just right.
A few plants will go in the hanging baskets ,must have a some plants.
Saw Jersey Royal potatoes in the shops last weekend,why do they no longer look like the old Jersey Royals , must try some to see if they taste anything like them.Could it be that some natural fertilizer that was used but has now been stopped by the EU, think something like that happened but not sure.. ... does anyone know?

• Posted by: Maggie • Report Comment

TOTALLY AGREE MARIGOLD

13.05.08, 11:51am

Theres nothing like home grown, smell better taste better.
Im quite lucky because my father grows all his veg, so i have a plentifull supply.
He his in his 70's very fit and heathly, and walks evertywhere¬

• Posted by: goldielocks • Report Comment

I ALWAYS GROW MY OWN TOMATOES

13.05.08, 10:48am

And how lovely and tasty they are.
Along with home grown lettuce, radishes, cress, and onions.
Summer is wonderful and so full of home grown produce. It takes just a little time and effort and the results are fantastic !
So healthy too with home grown strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
Forget the supermarkets.
Start planting the veg.
Last Christmas we had a sprout crop to feed all our friends and family !

• Posted by: marigold • Report Comment