Fuelling concerns

UK fruit and vegetable producers are counting the costs of higher energy bills.

Rising energy costs are already a concern this year and with higher prices expected for the foreseeable future, many UK producers are preparing to square up to this challenge.

Insiders are reporting fuel hikes of anywhere between 60-80 per cent, with energy-intensive sectors such as protected tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, (where energy use can amount to as much as 40 per cent of the costs of production) likely to be hardest hit.

Indeed, with the UK cucumber season upon us, observers have already acknowledged that higher fuel costs are going to have an effect.