Volcano fuels grow-your-own!

A seed company has called on gardeners to plant more fruit and veg in a new Dig For Victory-style campaign - or be left at the mercy of future food shortages in the shops.

Franchi Seeds of Italy warned the recent six-day closure of European airspace was an indicator of how quickly the supermarkets could run out of imported fruit and veg if a similar crisis dragged on.

Speaking while aeroplanes remained grounded due to ash from the Icelandic volcano, Seeds of Italy’s Paolo Arrigo said: "We strongly urge people to start planting vegetables now, either for the first time, or to increase the amount they have planted, reminiscent of the Dig for Victory campaign during World War Two. "While this may seem alarmist to some, the volcano has highlighted a vulnerability and fresh food supplies have been grounded overseas for almost a week. This will lead to shortages in our shops. It is obvious to us that food security is paramount here."

Rival seed firms warned that the crisis in imported produce could lead more households to grow-their-own - but did not want to alarm consumers.
Marketing co-ordinator at Suttons and Dobies of Devon, Francijn Suermondt, said: "Over the last few weeks we have seen a sharp increase in veg seed sales which now puts Suttons ahead of 2009's record levels. We have not noticed additional sales due to the grounding of aeroplanes, but due to recent events, we feel the UK's reliance of imported food has been highlighted. This may encourage more people to grow-their-own in future."

At Thompson & Morgan in Ipswich, spokeswoman Helen Johns agreed: "Throughout this year we have already seen continual growth in sales of vegetable and fruit seeds and plants, showing the nation’s rediscovery of grow-your-own is showing no sign of abating. "Situations like the disruption to flights have served to highlight how a reliance on imported food leaves people exposed to shortages. Growing your own is not only a money saver, it is means you know where your food is coming from."