Supermarket shoppers warned as pumpkins and Christmas dinner face devastating blow

Supermarket shoppers warned as pumpkins and Christmas dinner face devastating blow The scorching summer we've just had was brutal for British farmers, and many of them believe it could spell disaster for various seasonal staples. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Chris Samuel 19:39, Sat, Oct 31, 2026 Updated: 19:58, Sat, Oct 31, 2026 Producers have issued a warning about the impact of heatwaves on popular produce. (Image: Getty) Farmers have sounded the alarm about the impact of climate change on some beloved seasonal produce - including pumpkins and Christmas staples.

This summer was the hottest on record , with an average mean temperature of 16.5C and peak temperature of 38.1C recorded in London in mid August. The scorching conditions brought drought conditions to large parts of the UK, including across Wales, and over more than half of England. Water shortages continue in some areas. It was also one the most severe summers for wildfires the country has seen. The conditions have been brutal for British farmers, and experts believe summers like the one Britain just experienced will become more common.

Earlier this autumn, the Met Office 's Head of Climate Attribution Dr Mark McCarthy, said: “The summer of 2026 has been remarkable and is an example of the extremes we can expect to see more frequently as a consequence of human induced climate change. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT “Our analysis shows a summer like the one we’ve just experienced is now around 130 times more likely because of climate change. In a climate unaffected by human emissions of greenhouse gases, a summer like this would be exceptionally unlikely, i.e. 1 in over 1,000 years.

In our current climate, which is changing because of the effect of burning of fossil fuels, we should now expect this to be roughly a 1 in 9 year event." A poll of UK farmers by Novuna Business Finance, 84% said they would cut back on one or more product lines if the extreme weather experienced during this summer becomes the norm for future years. Of those who said they would make cutbacks, 17% said pumpkins, which sell in droves during Halloween, would no longer be viable to grow.

Others included barley (24%), poultry – including turkey, duck and goose (15%) and root vegetables (31%). A further 17% of farmers also said growing Christmas trees would no longer be viable, the firm said. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Joanna Morris, Head of Insight at Novuna Business Finance said: “As we go into a winter season braced for El Niño, our latest research reminds us that the prolonged extreme heat over the summer months had a significant impact on many SMEs across the UK – with farmers particularly affected.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Met Office issues major update on Northern Lights over UK on Saturday night Horror in UK market town as ‘Islamic State jihadist’ rapes woman "Nationally, 41% of small and established businesses say their enterprises are impacted by the weather each season. Farmers are among those most affected, which is why they need more support as a vital part of the economy. "At Novuna Business Finance we are supporting SMEs to become sustainable enterprises.

Also, for our agricultural customers experiencing financial difficulties as a result of extreme weather, we are adopting a flexible approach to help them navigate unforeseen challenges.” The research also found that many farmers are considering measures to be prepared for another hot summer in the future. 29% are investing in water storage reservoirs and 33% are looking into drought-resistant crop varieties. Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family .

Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . In August, the Government announced a £65 million funding boost for drought-hit farmers to build resilience against water shortages, alongside other measures to help ease the pressure on producers.

The department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs have been approached for comment. TikTok user shares hack for pumpkin carving Climate change Heatwave Pumpkin Fruit Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments