The Effects of the Floods

Lucky really:

Shortages of vegetables and grains will last until next spring, farming experts said yesterday.

With many fields under water, unharvested crops have been ruined and farmers are unable to do any new planting. Some growers say they have lost two thirds of their summer crop.

Peter Davis, managing director of Davis Worldwide, a leading importer of fresh fruit and vegetables, said: “In 30 years I have never seen a situation like this.” Supplies of potatoes, broccoli, courgettes, cauliflower, sweetcorn, parsnips and peas have all been affected. Crop consultants say that more than 70 per cent of barley and oilseed rape is ready to harvest but farmers are unable to get into the fields. Sprout growers have given warning of a severe shortage at Christmas as farmers have been unable to plant crops.

How fortunate that we're plugged into this global trading system for our food then, eh? Just think of the disaster if we all only ate foods grown within 10 or 15 miles of our homes: you know, reducing food miles so as to save the planet and starving in the process.