Sunday roast in crisis? Warning shortages of broccoli and cauliflower could leave Brits without veg - with climate change to blame
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It is one of the staples of a traditional Sunday roast. But experts now warn that Brits might have to go without cauliflower cheese this spring. Due to an unusually warm autumn and winter, brassicas like cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage have come up too early.
![[A warm autumn and winter meant that brassicas like cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli came up much earlier than normal. That means farmers might not have time to produce a crop for spring. Pictured: Cauliflower being picked in Holbeach, Lincolshire]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/16/94302111-14305197-A_warm_autumn_and_winter_meant_that_brassicas_like_cauliflower_c-a-115_1737389729239.jpg)
That means British growers might struggle to produce enough crops to meet the country's demand for veg by spring. And experts say that climate change means these conditions are only likely to become worse. What's more, a series of severe weather events in Europe mean that imports might not be able to make up the difference.
![[The Met Office has revealed that 2024 was provisionally the fourth hottest year on record for the UK. These temperatures have led to disruptive growth in UK crops]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/16/93675833-14305197-The_Met_Office_has_revealed_that_2024_was_provisionally_the_four-a-116_1737389729241.jpg)
Flooding in key growing regions like Valencia, Spain has left farmers unable to plant their crops soon enough. That means Britain could face an even longer 'hungry gap' - the period between April and early June when very few crops are ready to harvest.
![[Last year included the warmest May on record, the second warmest February, and the fifth warmest December. Conditions were also exceptionally wet, especially in the South West, England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/16/93675839-14305197-Of_the_12_months_of_the_year_eight_saw_temperatures_above_averag-a-117_1737389729244.jpg)
Experts have warned that the great British Sunday roast could be under threat due to climate change (stock image). While the UK is currently facing a spell of cold weather, on average this winter and the previous autumn have been among the warmest on record.
![[Spain, which would normally step in to fill gaps in the UK market, has been hit by severe deluges and extreme weather events. This means Spanish farmers are behind on their growing schedules]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/16/94301991-14305197-Spain_which_would_normally_step_in_to_fill_gaps_in_the_UK_market-a-120_1737389729263.jpg)
According to the Met Office, 2024 was the fourth hottest year on record for the UK. The average temperatures last year hit a balmy 9.78°C (49.6°F), which is 0.64°C (1.15°F) above the 1991-2020 average. This means 2024 follows 2022, 2023, and 2014 as the fourth warmest year for the UK.
![[In October, massive floods hit the Spanish regions of Valencia (pictured), Almería, and Andalusia which grow large amounts of the country's fresh produce. This could lead to shortages or increased prices for UK shoppers]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/16/94302023-14305197-In_October_massive_floods_hit_the_Spanish_regions_of_Valencia_pi-a-119_1737389729255.jpg)
