Heatwaves trigger higher milk prices and fears of veg shortages

Britain's relentless heatwave is squeezing food suppliesRory Poulter04:57, 04 Aug 2026Shoppers are facing the prospect of paying more for everyday groceries as Britain's relentless heatwave begins to squeeze food supplies.‌Milk prices are already rising and home grown crops of veg, fruit and cereals are under threat from poor harvests. The warning comes as drought-hit dairy farmers produce millions fewer litres of milk, while crop growers have been hit by one of the driest summers on record. And there is a double blow for consumers because Britain cannot simply rely on imports to fill the gap.‌Extreme heat and drought have also scorched large parts of mainland Europe, reducing harvests there and pushing up the cost of fresh produce shipped to UK supermarkets. The combination raises fears t