‘Allow them to eat turnips’: Tory minister wades in on the way to ease grocery store shortages

Consuming turnips may assist keep away from fruit and vegetable shortages in UK supermarkets throughout the winter months, the surroundings secretary has stated.

Therese Coffey informed MPs that ongoing shortages of produce shall be a short lived subject that must be resolved in two to 4 weeks.

She added the UK ought to “cherish the specialisms” it has and a “lot of individuals could be consuming turnips proper now” underneath a seasonal meals mannequin – somewhat than interested by lettuce, tomatoes and comparable produce.

Ms Coffey went on to acknowledge customers desire a “year-round alternative”.

Her remarks got here after Tory colleague Selaine Saxby stated supermarkets are importing “far too many merchandise” and prompt seasonal consuming would resolve the problem.

A scarcity of tomatoes in UK supermarkets has widened to different fruit and greens as a result of a mix of dangerous climate and transport issues in Africa and Europe.

Some supermarkets have launched buyer limits on sure contemporary produce, with pictures rising of empty cabinets.

Responding to an pressing query within the Home of Commons, Ms Coffey stated: “I’m led to consider by my officers, after dialogue with business and retailers, we anticipate the scenario will final about one other two to 4 weeks.

“It will be significant that we try to make it possible for we get various sourcing choices. That’s the reason the division has already been in dialogue with the retailers.

“It’s why there shall be additional discussions led by ministers as nicely, in order that we are able to try to recover from this and try to keep away from comparable conditions sooner or later.

“Even when we can not management the climate, it is crucial that we attempt and ensure the provision continues to not be annoyed in fairly the best way it has been as a result of these uncommon climate incidents.”

In response to a later query, Ms Coffey stated: “I’m hoping that this shall be a short lived subject.”

Ms Saxby, Conservative MP for North Devon, later stated: “The supermarkets are nonetheless importing far too many merchandise for us and… truly we must be consuming extra seasonally and supporting our personal British farmers.

“And if we had been truly to maneuver to a seasonal line of consuming, many of those issues could be averted… there are nice meals merchandise accessible from native farmers presently.”

Ms Coffey replied: “It’s essential to make it possible for we cherish the specialisms that we have now on this nation.

“Lots of people could be consuming turnips proper now somewhat than pondering essentially about points of lettuce and tomatoes and comparable, however I’m aware that customers desire a year-round alternative and that’s what our supermarkets, meals producers and growers around the globe attempt to fulfill.”

For Labour, shadow surroundings secretary Jim McMahon stated: “There may be real public concern in regards to the availability of meals, and because the secretary chargeable for our meals safety – and let’s keep in mind meals safety is nationwide safety – that is completely mission-critical.”

A Downing Road spokesperson stated: “We don’t consider it’s for us to inform folks what they need to or shouldn’t purchase, that’s totally a matter for them. I feel what the secretary of state was doing was setting out the significance of celebrating the produce that we develop right here within the UK however, in the end, it’s for people to resolve what meals they want to purchase.”

Requested if Brexit was an impression on shortages, he stated: “The business and retailers themselves have spoken in regards to the purpose for a number of the provide points we face, notably poor climate in sure components of southern Europe and north Africa.”