Shoppers feel crunch as price of produce climbs

The conflict in the Middle East is impacting the price of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in the UK.

The UN reported a second monthly rise in global food prices as the Middle East conflict drives up energy and fertilizer costs, threatening future harvests and yields despite currently stable market supplies.

An analysis of produce wholesale prices found significant price spikes in staples like tomatoes, bananas, and yellow onions since the war began, with experts warning of further increases if the conflict continues.

The FAO reports global food prices rose in March, driven by higher energy costs, with vegetable oils and sugar leading gains amid supply pressures and geopolitical tensions.

World food commodity prices rose in March for the second month in a row, due largely to higher energy prices linked to the conflict escalation in the Near East, according to the latest benchmark measure released by the FAO.