Torrential rain in the UK is putting the traditional Christmas dinner staples at risk, according to reports today.
October and November’s trio of storms - Agnes, Babet and Ciaran – have made the ground too wet to harvest many seasonal vegetables, according to farmers quoted by Sky News.
Potato crops are at record lows of 4.1 million tonnes, while supplies of broccoli and cauliflower are also well below normal.
Fred Searle, editor of Fresh Produce Journal, told the broadcaster: “The British potato harvest has been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding in recent weeks, causing delayed lifting and large crop losses.
Martin Tate, a Lincolnshire farmer, added: "There won't be enough broccoli to supply the Christmas dinner demand.
“Cauliflower is still a problem, and you can expect to see empty trays over the next few weeks but may return to normal before Christmas.”
Sprout lovers, though, can breathe easy as Tate said supplies look like they “will be okay", though they might be not as large as in previous years, according to T H Clements, one of the country's largest suppliers.
Chris Gedney, the distributor’s chief executive, told the BBC: “Brussels sprouts are likely to be smaller this year as the larger ones tend to fall in the water and rot."
But he too expects sprouts and parsnips to be around in good numbers at Christmas.