Berry growers have warned of increased prices due to the war in Iran. Since the conflict broke out last month, fears over the price of several things, from rice to petrol, have erupted. The British Berry Growers Association has said that input costs are being driven up by disruption in the Middle East. This, the organisation says, includes fuel and fertiliser, which have a knock-on effect on the final price of berries on UK supermarket shelves.
The most popular berries in the UK, which Fruitnet says are strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, could go up in price as a result. The chairman of the British Berry Growers Association, Nick Marston, said growers are facing a « knock-on effect » as the price of production and transport goes up. In addition, berry growers, like other producers, have been facing higher energy costs in recent years.
« The conflict in the Middle East is certainly having a knock-on effect on the costs faced by British berry growers, » Nick said. « External transport costs are rising as hauliers link their rates to the price of diesel, which has spiked. »
He added: « The Strait of Hormuz is not only vital for global oil transport, but it is also a key shipping route for global fertiliser trade. As this is facing significant disruption amid the conflict, the knock-on effect on our members’ input costs is severe. »
He said that British berry growers are facing cost increases across a number of fronts, putting significant pressure on prices.
« There is a clear opportunity for retailers and growers to work in partnership to ensure these additional costs are fairly recognised across the supply chain, » he added.
Berries are not the only foods that some expect to go up in price as a result of the war. Jim Mellon, an investor and Chief Executive of Agronomics, told the Daily Express: « Global conflicts, along with climate change, are causing food shortages, supply chain issues and price spikes in the UK and beyond. »
Meanwhile, retail analyst Marty Bauer, said: « That extra cost rarely disappears, and most of Britain’s biggest retailers will likely do anything to avoid it impacting their margins, so unfortunately, it tends to be passed down the chain, while making sure to avoid deterring consumers entirely. »
According to George Phillips, the commercial director of the UK’s largest World Food distributor and wholesaler, Wains, things like rice, bread, sugar, bottled water and milk could go up in price as a result of conflict in the Middle East.
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