Old Oaks farm urge public to 'shop local' after supermarket shortages

First-generation farmers Francesca Russell, from Prenton and Mick Russell, from Essex, own Old Oaks Farm in Neston. They used to sell their eggs at the farm gate and their meat to friends and family.

During lockdown, they set up a cart at their farm gate with fruit and vegetables and more recently opened their own little farm shop.

Nearly all of their produce is either sourced from British farmers or is their own. 

National shortage of fruit and vegetables

The country has seen a shortage of fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves over the past week and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned this shortage could be “the tip of the iceberg”.

NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw has said the UK has now “hit a tipping point” and needs to “take command of the food we produce” amid “volatility around the world” caused by the war in Europe and climate change.

Speaking to the Globe about the shortages, Francesca said: "There are just some things that you can't get at the moment because it isn't seasonal. 

"Everyone wants cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes all year round because it is part of their everyday diet so it is impossible not to sell them.

"We have had people come into us just to buy tomatoes because we have them fully stocked."

Francesca also explained that Spain has been colder than usual, and Morocco has had floods, causing problems with growing produce.

"Morocco is the only place you generally get tomatoes and peppers around this time of year but they've had all of the floods so their production ground has changed and in Spain, it's been really cold and they've had to put on heaters which they're not geared for", she said.

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Francesca also spoke about why it is so important to 'shop local'.

Supermarket shelves continue to look like this (Image: PA)

She said: "When you shop local you are paying for a families dream. It's really important to build these small businesses up.

"I don't understand why people would pick food when they don't even know where it is from in a supermarket over local.

"I only eat meat from my farm because I know how they've been looked after.

"Morrisons has been advertising carrots for 35p. I couldn't even grow a carrot for 35p. I think in the UK we don't generally pay enough for food and respect the way it's been produced."

Some supermarkets have enforced a 'maximum purchase' on some items (Image: PA)

'The supermarkets dictate everything'

Francesca explained that supermarkets are taking over, leaving many farmers across the UK struggling.

"Farmers around us are struggling. The supermarkets dictate everything and it's sad that there is not more support for farmers," she said.

"A video I have shared shows that supermarkets have put eggs up by 80p but they haven't shared that increase with the farmers and there's lots of that going on."

Mick added: "There's a lot of veg out there, but the British supermarkets refuse to pay more than the contracted price which is why we can still get hold of stuff and they can't.

"If we want it we have to pay more for it, but the supermarkets refuse to do that. That's the supermarket's problem.

"If we can get hold of the tomatoes, they can. They are not willing to pay the extra price."

Francesca also highlighted that farmers need to be looked after.

She said: "Supermarkets need to look after the farmers. It feels like this country is trying to get rid of British farming.

"It's so scary because what if we have to import everything."

You can visit Old Oaks Farm at Leighton Rd, Parkgate, Neston, CH64 3SW.

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