Bread prices to soar after rain-ruined harvests force millers to buy in German wheat
SHOPPERS face paying more for bread after rain-ruined harvests forced millers to buy in German wheat.
Flour usually reserved for pretzels will now be used in our loaves.
The UK wheat harvest is predicted to be down four million tonnes to ten million, a 30 per cent fall, owing to months of downpours.
So hundreds of thousands of tonnes of German wheat will be shipped in, potentially driving up production costs.
Joe Brennan of trade body UK Flour Millers said: “Lots of wheat farmers haven’t been able to plant due to fields being so waterlogged.
“German wheat is the substitute for British bread-making wheat.
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“We’re expecting a significant uptick in imports.”
The German flour is high in protein.
It will be mixed with some UK-produced flour to make loaves.
A source at a UK grain merchant added: “Some wheat farmers are in a real pickle with the weather. Mills are planning for a shortage.
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“That means there will be more imports and more German wheat in the bread in Britain’s shops this year.”
Experts said the rise in the cost of a loaf might only be temporary until homegrown wheat supply picks up.
Last month a loaf of 800g sliced white bread cost an average of £1.39 in UK shops.
David Eudall, at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, warned: “If we see continued lower production due to poor weather and other costs, we will need more imports and expose our market to the world trade.”