As the frosty mornings of winter give way to the first gentle breezes of spring, a troubling realization is dawning across the UK’s fertile fields and bustling produce aisles. Our cherished staples of broccoli and cauliflower, the sturdy brassicas that have long graced our plates with their nourishing presence, are poised for a period of unsettling scarcity in the months ahead. The culprit behind this impending dearth? None other than the capricious forces of climate change, which have thrown off the delicate balance of our agricultural rhythms with their unseasonable mildness.
A Brassica Betrayal
In a cruel twist of meteorological fate, the unusually balmy temperatures that blessed the UK throughout autumn and winter have spurred our brassica crops to mature far ahead of their appointed time. As Hannah Croft, an agronomist at the organic vegetable box company Riverford, explains:
Our Spanish suppliers, who grow much of our winter broccoli, have faced setbacks due to heavy autumn rain, which caused quality issues and delayed planting for spring crops. This has pushed harvest schedules forward, meaning there’s a possibility of a gap in late spring.
Hannah Croft, Agronomist at Riverford
The situation is no less dire on the home front, where British cauliflower crops have been battered by a one-two punch of significant rainfall and unseasonably mild temperatures. Guy Barter, the chief horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society, was stunned to discover cauliflowers ready for harvest months ahead of schedule on his Surrey allotment.
The Climate Connection
These disruptions to our brassica supply are far from a one-off anomaly. In fact, they are a stark reminder of the ever-increasing impact of climate change on our agricultural landscape. As the Met Office warns, the UK can expect to see more frequent occurrences of both unusually mild winters and heavy rainfall events in the years to come, thanks to the relentless march of human-induced climate change.
The implications of this climatic upheaval extend far beyond the humble brassica. From drowned fields to parched earth, farmers across the UK and Europe are grappling with the challenges of a shifting agricultural paradigm.
Bridging the Hungry Gap
As we brace ourselves for a potential lull in our broccoli and cauliflower supply, the question on everyone’s mind is: how can we bridge the “hungry gap” that yawns between the end of winter and the start of summer? Croft suggests that spring greens and other cabbages may help to fill the void, as these crops have proven more resilient to the recent weather challenges.
Spring greens, protected under nets, are on track for harvest from January through April, and will take over as curly kales finish up.
Hannah Croft, Agronomist at Riverford
But even as we seek out alternative greens to grace our plates, the specter of climate change looms large over our agricultural landscape. From the fields to the grocery aisles, the impact of our shifting climate is becoming impossible to ignore.
A Wake-Up Call for Change
As we confront the possibility of a spring without our beloved broccoli and cauliflower, it’s clear that we can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to the realities of climate change. This brassica shortage serves as a clarion call for action, urging us to confront the challenges ahead with resilience, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to building a more sustainable future.
The path forward will not be easy, but it is a path we must walk together. From supporting local farmers who are at the forefront of climate adaptation to making conscious choices about the food we consume and the policies we support, each of us has a role to play in shaping a more resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape.
So as we bid a temporary farewell to our beloved broccoli and cauliflower, let us embrace this moment as an opportunity for reflection, action, and change. Together, we can weather the storms ahead and cultivate a future where our fields and plates are bountiful, diverse, and resilient in the face of an ever-changing climate.
