Tory's farm shop brimming with fruit and veg with nearby Sainsbury's almost bare

25 February 2023 , 19:53

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Plenty of fruit and veg was available at Spring Lane Farm Shop in Nottingham, owned by Tory food minister Mark Spencer’s family (Image: Byline Pictures Ltd)

Tory food minister Mark Spencer’s farm shop shows there’s plenty on the shelf if you have the wealth.

While supermarkets were stripped bare as the fruit and veg shortage gripped tight, Mr Spencer’s family store was a land of plenty.

Green crates at the Spring Lane Farm Shop outside Nottingham were bulging with ripe ­tomatoes, plump peppers and juicy cucumbers.

Ironically it had no turnips, the veg his boss Therese Coffey suggested as a home-grown alternative to scarce imported produce.

Mr Spencer’s shop was doing a brisk trade –despite charging double supermarket prices.

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Tomatoes were £3.99 per kg, cucumbers £1.89 each, iceberg lettuces £1.75 a piece, peppers £6.49 per kg. A kilo of broccoli cost £4.49 and giant Spanish onions £1.79.

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Therese Coffey said Brits should turn to turnips (AFP via Getty Images)

Mark Spencer said there was no prospect of food shortages (PA)

One customer said: “It is a bit pricey but the ­quality of produce is excellent. I’m a bit surprised there is so much fresh fruit and veg available given the horror stories which have come out this week.”

It was a different picture at the Sainsbury’s Local just 500 yards down the road.

There were no tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers or lettuce. A pack of three regular onions cost £1 and there was one piece of broccoli left.

Shoppers have been faced with empty shelves in Sainsbury's Local (Byline Pictures Ltd)

Speaking in March last year, as concern grew about the impact of the war in Ukraine on food supplies Mr Spencer, 53, said there was “no prospect of food shortages at any point in the future”.

Big supermarkets have faced shortages for several days and shoppers are limited on purchases.

Suppliers in Morocco and Spain, which meet most UK winter needs, have faced cold temperatures, heavy rain, and flooding over the past three to four weeks.

There were no turnips for sale (Getty Images)

Environment Secretary Ms Coffey warned the situation would “last about another two to four weeks”.

She also said that British consumers should “cherish” home-grown produce, and eat more turnips instead of ­imported food.

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Mr Spencer and the Department of Food were approached for a comment.

Phil Cardy