EPAHigh energy costs have forced one of the UK’s biggest cucumber firms to reduce production despite salad item shortages in supermarkets.
Tony Montalbano from Green Acre Salads in Roydon, Essex, said he will be growing fewer crops and start later in the year.
Mr Montalbano said he was “trying to find ways of saving” money.
The company is a leading supplier of mini cucumbers to British supermarkets.
Mr Montalbano said for the second year running he had planted two seasons of crops rather than the usual three to avoid the higher winter months growing costs.
“Three seasons ago there would be a full crop and harvesting [at this time of year],” he said.
Helen Mulroy/BBCUsually the company would start planting in late January. This year, planting will begin in April.
The producer said he had to keep his glasshouses at 21C (70F) to grow cucumbers and said his energy bills would have been “five times” higher had he grown his full crop.
Mr Montalbano said although this would reduce his costs it also meant he could lose out on about a third of his turnover.
Getty ImagesThe UK government has said the shortages were largely down to bad weather in Europe and Africa.
High energy prices were also having an impact on supplies on produce grown in greenhouses in the UK and the Netherlands, industry experts have said.
The Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said the shortages could last up to a month.
