We were all starting to think that 2017 had to be a better year than 2016 but then disaster struck…..the 19th January 2017, the day #CourgetteCrisis trended on Twitter.
Seriously?! Are we spiralising out of control already?
BBC, The Guardian, The Telegraph and the Daily Mail all reporting on the catastrophe. Shoppers in their droves in uproar on Twitter because they can’t find the one vegetable that will complete their evening meal.
Fellow allotmenteers; if you have a glut in the freezer or dehydrated….quick get them on ebay!
Ok, I will try be serious about this for a minute…it has been reported that wholesale prices for courgettes have more than tripled after unusually cold and wet weather in Spain where most of the European supplies are grown. During the winter months, Spain’s Murcia region supplies 80% of Europe’s fresh produce. But after suffering the heaviest rainfall in 30 years, only 30% of Murcia’s growing fields are useable.
The weather has also affected growing conditions in Italy, where they would usually be exporting produce but are having to import themselves. The effects of shortages appear to be causing crisis here in the UK, which imports an estimated 50% of its vegetables and 90% of its fruit.
At New Covent Garden market, vegetable seller Mark Gregory told the BBC: “Whereas normally courgettes are £6 or £7 [a crate], they’re now 20-22 quid and we’re struggling to get them.
It’s not just courgettes either, spinach, cabbages and iceberg lettuce are also being affected.
I had to head to the local Waitrose this morning to see if the epidemic had hit my small market town yet…phew, not quite, I can breathe a sigh of relief.
I may have been imagining things though as I saw aisles of many other beautiful and perfectly edible winter vegetables on the shelves, so don’t take my word on it.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and unsure how you are going to cope…I worry! Spend an hour grieving over the lack of courgetti you will have on your plate, then put on your big girl or boy pants and go crazy, try any of the other nutritious and naturally delicious vegetables available. I dare you!
Or even better still…get an allotment and give growing your own a go!
Full blog post on growing your own courgettes coming soon.