Eat turnips instead of tomatoes as shortages could drag on, says Tory minister

23 February 2023 , 12:42

715     0

Supermarkets have been forced to limit the amount of some products customers can buy (Image: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)

Fruit and vegetable shortages could last another MONTH, a Tory cabinet member has said - amid calls for the government to call an emergency COBRA meeting about the crisis.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey came under fire after retailers were forced to put limits on how much fresh produce customers could buy.

She told MPs that the situation is expected to last another "two to four weeks" and said officials had been locked in discussions with retailers.

In the meantime, the top Tory suggested people should eat turnips instead.

Morrisons and Asda announced on Tuesday that they will limit the number of certain fresh food items customers can purchase in their stores.

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

Aldi and Tesco followed suit yesterday by also imposing restrictions on some fruits and vegetables.

It comes as tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, raspberries and lettuces are in short supply.

Therese Coffey has been criticised for her handling of the food crisis (Getty Images)

The Lib Dems have called on the government to call a COBRA meeting as they desperately try to get a grip.

Troubled frontbencher Ms Coffey - who was also criticised for saying that people struggling to pay for food should work more hours - told MPs: "I am led to believe by my officials after discussion with industry and retailers, we anticipate the situation will last about another two to four weeks.

"It is important that we try and make sure that we get alternative sourcing options. That is why the department has already been in discussion with the retailers.

"It is why there will be further discussions led by ministers as well, so that we can try and get over this and try and avoid similar situations in the future.

"Even if we cannot control the weather it is important that we try and make sure the supply continues to not be frustrated in quite the way it has been due to these unusual weather incidents."

In a heated exchange in the Commons she was branded "Calamity Coffey" by her Labour counterpart after an "outrageous display" which saw her booed at the National Farmers Union (NFU) conference yesterday.

Supermarkets are facing a shortage of some fresh produce (ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Ms Coffey has been criticised after a dismal display at the NFU conference which saw her say egg shortages were not caused by "market failure" and telling farmers "we can't control the weather in Spain".

Shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon told the Commons: "Although there might have been differences about the impact and the scale of the impact, there was consensus. And the consensus was that the Environment Secretary had a pretty bad day at the office.

Richard 'shuts up' GMB guest who says Hancock 'deserved' being called 'd***head'

"Some describing it as a slow motion tractor crash; 'Calamity Coffey'. But either way and joking aside, it was an insult to the very foundation of our food security and hardworking British farmers."

He added: "Will the Environment Secretary, not the farming minister, use this opportunity to apologise for the outrageous display at the NFU conference in Birmingham yesterday?"

Environment minister Mark Spencer stepped in, telling Mr McMahon that Ms Coffey couldn't answer due to parliamentary procedure.

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine has called on the government to call a COBRA meeting

He added there had been "robust exchanges" with NFU members, adding that ministers would "continue to work with the NFU" and other groups who represent farmers.

Meanwhile a Tory MP suggested that seasonal eating would solve the shortage of tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables.

Selaine Saxby asked: "I wonder if my right honourable friend agrees with me that actually the supermarkets are still importing far too many produce for us and that actually we should be eating more seasonally and supporting our own British farmers?

"And if we were actually to move to a seasonal line of eating, many of these problems would be avoided and that there are great food products available from local farmers at this time?"

Ms Coffey replied: "It's important to make sure that we cherish the specialisms that we have in this country.

"A lot of people would be eating turnips right now rather than thinking necessarily about aspects of lettuce, and tomatoes and similar but I'm conscious that consumers want a year-round choice and that is what our supermarkets, food producers and growers around the world try to satisfy."

Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine said: “People are rightly alarmed about the chronic shortage of fruit and vegetables in our shops, but it seems the government has no urgent plan to fix it.

“This government has created chaos in the economy, an NHS on its knees, now they’re responsible for worsening food shortages through their failure to back British farming.

“We need an urgent COBRA meeting, together with food experts, supermarkets and farmers, to hammer out an urgent solution to this crisis.

“Ministers cannot just sit on their hands while food supply chains across the country grind to a halt.”

The Prime Minister's spokesman last night said: "We don't believe it's for us to tell people what they should or shouldn't buy. That's entirely a matter for them.

"I think what the Secretary of State was doing was setting out the importance of celebrating the produce that we grow here in the UK, but ultimately, it's for individuals to decide what foods they wish to buy."

Dave Burke