Cold snap 'will not hit food prices'

Media reports have suggested the inability of farmers to harvest vegetables allied with current transport difficulties could lead to higher prices, particularly for fresh produce.

But the BRC, which represents the retail sector, said there was no reason to think the reports were true.

“It is basically rubbish,” a BRC spokesman said. “This is just a short spell of cold weather that appears to be coming to an end this week.

“There is no evidence at all that retailers are having any difficulty with getting enough supplies to meet to normal levels of demand or that this is going  to last long enough to make nay difference to shop prices of produce.”

He acknowledged that food prices have been rising of late – the latest official price index for December showed a 3.7 per cent increase on the previous year.

But he said this trend was down to issues like rising oil prices, the exchange rate and increases in the price of global commodities like sugar and wheat. “These are of far more importance than a bit of snowy weather,” he said.

The NFU reiterated the business as usual message. NFU acting director general Martin Haworth said farmers faced a number of problems, including crops frozen in the fields and rural roads and farm tracks which are difficult to access, but were used to coping in extreme conditions.

“These are difficult times, but farmers are doing all they can to ensure supplies reach consumers to avoid shortages and panic buying,” he said.

“Many businesses are feeling the effects of the cold weather. Farming is no different but is more readily prepared and able to cope. Farmers are used to dealing with extreme weather conditions and are working very hard to make it ‘business as usual’ and helping neighbours by clearing tracks and gritting.

“If the bad weather continues then the industry will pull together to ensure that deliveries carry on, and will do all it can to keep lanes and tracks clear so that goods can be collected.”

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