Cancel Christmas, a Brussels sprout shortage is looming
We are sorry to say that Christmas must be cancelled.
Not because our world is now a burning furnace where a summers day means hellish temperatures of over 30 degrees, but because we may be facing a shortage of one of the key ingredients of a Christmas dinner: The humble Brussels sprout.
HuffPost reports that the three months of super dry, hot weather weve been experiencing has created an environment thats less than ideal for planting sprouts.
On Wednesday the National Farming Union held an emergency summit to discuss to impact of the heat wave, declaring that we could be at risk of a sprout-free Christmas.
Sprouts arent the only vegetable struggling in the heat. Shortages of broccoli, cabbage, and potatoes have all been predicted thanks to the increase in temperatures. Even peas are in trouble.
But the problem for sprouts is that demand increases so sharply in Christmas that they need to be harvested at exactly the right time.
With sprouts, you are trying to hit peak production around Christmas which is why its so difficult, said Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association.
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Ward also warned that if the current trend for freezing winters and extremely hot summers continues, we could be facing a British farming crisis, with more vegetable troubles on the horizon.
This isnt the first time weve had trouble with Brussels sprouts.
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In both 2017 and 2016 Brussels sprouts shortages have been predicted, in large part due to Brexit and a difficulty getting seasonal workers.
In 2017, however, farmers declared that the rumours were overstated and their Brussels sprouts supplies were completely fine. Think back to last Christmas – did you have trouble getting hold of some sprouts?
Heres hoping that this years worries will be just as easily swept away and well be able to fill our plates with sprouts this Christmas.
But regardless of what were feasting on in the festive season, we probably should be keeping an eye on that climate change thing people have been banging on about. Maybe if Christmas dinners are affected, world leaders and the general public will finally take global warming seriously.
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