Tomato prices soar in UK, country faces a pizza crisis
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London: After farms in Europe and North Africa were hit by unfavourable weather conditions, the UK is facing a shortage of tomatoes. The situation is so bad that supermarket shelves are empty and prices have increased so high that restaurants are struggling to afford the common vegetable.
Due to the supply shortage, many restaurants in the UK are trying to make do without tomatoes and find possible alternatives. However, the pizza market may not be able to cope with the shortage because tomato is key to the passata base.
Federazione Italian Cuochi (FIC) UK, a chefs' group, told Metro that the cost of tomatoes increased by 400% in the last year. It has gone from five pounds to 20 pounds for a case.
Some eateries are trying to table white tomato-free pizzas and pasta meals. Enzo Oliveri, president of the FIC UK told The Guardian that many chefs are using ricotta cheese, aubergines, and courgettes as a base to thicken sauces. "White pizza, white sauces for pasta or less tomato. We're making it a trend because prices are going up and because of shortages."
He added growing expenses and Brexit may put some establishments out of business. "There's a shortage everywhere, there are no tomatoes coming from any place. I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel." Britain sources most tomatoes from Spain or Morocco.
A similar situation is seen in several parts of Europe and in Italy, restaurants are struggling with growing price hikes and the consequences of Brexit.
According to a report in The Guardian, the wholesale price of tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines has quadrupled. Some are not selling vine tomatoes at all because of the high cost. Supermarkets are struggling because growers cannot fulfil their contracts. Farmers think the crisis exposes the fragility of the modern supply chain.
Tim Lang, emeritus professor of food policy at City, said it is absurd to rely on fresh produce grown over 1,000 miles away. The pharmacists who rely on drugs from China and India are also struggling.