The cargo carrier IAG Cargo said it had flown 30,000 heads of lettuce from Los Angeles to the UK in the past week alone.
Tony Clemence, general manager of the Bristol branch of the wholesaler Total Produce, said the company was having to import about 30% of its iceberg lettuce and 40% of its celery from Spain and Poland when all supplies usually come from the UK at this time of year.
“We’re not importing from the US but people will look at that because they are committed to a quantity for the supermarkets. Spain is mainly growing for its local markets at this time of year, so there is not enough to go around and some will have to look further afield.”