8 UK Fruits And Vegetables Experts Think Could Rise In Cost

This year, extreme heat assailed most of Europe. That very much included the UK, which saw drought and back-to-back record-breaking temperatures.

Overall, the summer of 2026 was our hottest on record.

The Met Office has said that conditions like these have been made far more likely by human-induced climate change.

Their fallout is varied and broad. Relentless heatwaves have already affected wildlife populations, energy demands, transport links, and public health.

Back in early August, the National Farmers’ Union president Tom Bradshaw warned, “It does feel like there is going to be some shortages of [food] products” following dry spells.

And speaking to Radio 5 Live last month, Tim O’Malley, the chairman of Nationwide Produce, warned that this will likely be reflected in customers’ grocery bills.

“I think we’re going to see shrinkflation [paying the same amount for less],” he said, adding that “eventually [supermarkets] will probably have to come to the party and increase the price, particularly if they start importing”.

Here are just some of the fruits and veg that may be at greater risk of price hikes:

The Brassica Growers Association has said that dry, hot conditions proved to be a “disaster” for the veg.

“Fields of broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage have now stopped growing and have become dormant, while available produce is smaller in size and weight, with the likelihood of crops bolting before reaching maturity,” they continued.

While some have found hope and even a lower need for imported brassicas after recent rainfall, Shane Talling, director of business development at Veg-UK, has said that this probably won’t be enough to make up the gap.

He also said he expected prices to rise accordingly.

According to Lea Valley Growers’ Association, which produces about 75% of the UK’s sweet peppers and cucumbers, the heat wiped out up to 40% of their pepper supply and has led the company to “reconsider” its growing practices.

Higher energy and fertiliser prices, as well as greater labour costs, have put the association in a tough spot, secretary Lee Stiles told the BBC.

He added: “When suppliers’ costs go up, supermarkets can decide to keep the prices down and take less of a cut or pass it on [to the customer] so the increase [is reflected] in the price tag.”

Cucumbers and peppers may have already become more expensive, partly due to rising fuel and fertiliser costs following the Iran war.

Potato plants begin to shut down when temperatures get above 23°C, shared Chris Dustow, who runs a 400-acre farm. As far back as July, he said: “There will be quite a yield penalty [following heatwaves], could be 30 to 40%, may even be higher.”

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, a spokesperson for The Food Council noted that field vegetables and roots such as carrots, onions and potatoes have “borne the brunt of dry, shrinking soils” and are therefore most at risk of price rises.

More recently, William Thorogood, director of fruit and veg wholesale supplier Rushton’s Green Grocer, said: “Pricing has been an issue in the last couple of months, but the effect is really going to be in the next 12 months.

“That’s going to be more of an issue as products like potatoes and onions for next year are going to be more expensive.”

Shrinking yields, import fees and greater fertiliser and energy costs could all make your next supermarket shop noticeably dearer.