Huge rise in sales of watercress after buyers panic as vegetable supply crisis continues
Sales of the aquatic superfood have doubled in last two weeks as the vegetable crisis continues
THE ongoing vegetable crisis has led to a huge increase in sales of watercress which is being dubbed the "last veg standing" as it is immune to the poor growing conditions in Europe.
Sales of the aquatic super-food have doubled in the last two weeks with millions of panic buyers finding supermarket shelves stripped bare of lettuce, spinach and courgettes.
Torrential rain and devastating floods in Spain, which supplies 80 per cent of fresh produce to Britain during the winter, has wiped out crops causing a vegetable shortage.
It has lead to some supermarkets rationing the amount of lettuce and broccoli that customers can buy.
While watercress is grown in the same region of the country, it has remained unaffected by the weather as it needs wet conditions to grow.
The perfect storm conditions has turned watercress into gold dust for health-conscious shoppers.
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One of the UK's leading suppliers of the nutrient-rich vegetable, The Watercress Company, sold an additional 200,000 bags, or 16,000kg, just last week, which is twice the usual level.
Sales in large cities have also shot up, with a 30 per cent increase in London compared with this time last year.
Tom Amery, managing director at the Dorset-based The Watercress Company, which owns several farms in Spain, said: "Over the last two weeks sales of watercress have doubled.
"There have been times during this shortage when watercress has been the only product in the vegetable aisle.
"While almost every other one has been wiped out, our product was the only one to survive because it can withstand such severe wet weather.
"No matter how much rain you give watercress it keeps on growing.
"Savvy shoppers who can't find what they're looking for should think about an alternative and go for watercress instead.
"People are reverting to some of the nation's favourite old sandwiches like egg and watercress or salmon and watercress."
WILL THE VEG SHORTAGE PUSH UP PRICES?
SUPERMARKETS say they are working hard with suppliers to keep prices low - but they've remained tight-lipped on whether prices have to rise.
Experts have warned that if supplies dry up then shops may be forced to buy from elsewhere and with the rest of Europe also experiencing a shortage, it could push prices up.
Experts predict that supplies of courgettes could be short until June, while the availability of tomatoes, peppers, broccoli and lettuce leaves may be tight until at least May.
On the upside, watercress suppliers expect their sales to reach an all time high.
He added: "It looks likely there won't be a full recovery this side of the UK season which starts in April-May.
"We have increased production of watercress to be ready for this.
"We are encouraging supermarkets to continue filling the gaps with it and we expect our sales to remain strong for the next few months.
"Watercress really is the perfect replacement for vegetables that have been washed away and we have it in plentiful supply.
"It's on a par with many other vegetables in terms of nutrition and has high levels of vitamin C."
The vegetable shortage is believed to have cost supermarket giants like Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys £8m last month, with sales of spinach, lettuce and courgettes half of what they should be.
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