UK heatwave is causing a shortage of carrots - putting Christmas dinners this year in jeopardy

It’s not just lettuce and crisps that the UK heatwave is affecting – now a shortage of carrots is looming.

Farmer Rodger Hobson says a lack of British-grown carrots could last up until June 2019 and force supermarkets to import the vegetable from abroad.

The 54-year-old farmer has revealed this summer’s heatwave and Beast From The East has been the ‘perfect storm’ of poor growing conditions.

He runs Hobson Farming on the outskirts of York which has seen it harvest 30% fewer carrots than last year – which is likely to hit the Christmas dinner table hard.

Mr Hobson, chairman of the British Carrot Growers Association, said: ‘It’s the most serious I have ever seen it.

‘We normally plant in March and April because the longer they are in the ground the more they grow.

‘But because of the snow we didn’t get them planted until the middle of May and it’s not just the water shortage – it’s also the temperatures.

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‘The optimum is 16C to 19C. It’s 25C and the carrots just wilt.

‘For the first time in four years we have not harvested for two weeks – you feel a bit useless.’

Mr Hobson, who has been farming carrots for 28 years, said the crisis will inevitably have an impact on prices as poor yields push up UK production costs and farmers are put under pressure.

He highlighted the Aldi Christmas marketing campaign, saying: ‘Kevin the Carrot might be French this year – the only option will be bring carrots in from abroad.’

The UK traditionally grows about 97% of its own carrots but Mr Hobson added: ‘The British carrot growing industry is respected worldwide for its ability to produce fresh from the field carrots 52 weeks of the year.

‘However, we have suffered the perfect storm of poor conditions this year. The damage is done, we are now halfway through the growing season.’

With much of Europe experiencing the same weather, there could be a shortage of imported carrots too.

Mr Hobson warned consumers to expect price rises but urged them to continue to support British growers.

Hobson Farming is the UK’s largest grower of carrots for the processing market producing more than 30,000 tonnes of carrots each year.

Britain consumes around 700,000 carrots a year, compared with 17 million consumed in China.