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Sprouts may have to be imported this Christmas as British shoppers ‘face shortage’

The weather has been causing problems with the crops

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Love them or loathe them, Brussels sprouts are an integral part of any Yuletide spread.

But sprouts fans are facing a shortage of their fave veg grown in the UK this Christmas, reports claim.

The Grocer reports that because of the wet weather, sprouts may be in short supply this year.

A spokesperson for the British Growers Association (BGA) says that there is only a ‘short timescale’ for the weather to improve.

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Read more: More people want Brussels Sprouts than pigs in blankets at Christmas

If things don’t improve, brassicas like sprouts, cauliflowers, and cabbages will have to be shipped in from abroad to meet demand during the festive period.

The spokesperson said that the record wet weather has made harvesting crops “very difficult”.

With the chances of things drying out being quite slim, the next step is starting to import.

Lincolnshire, which grows 60 per cent of brassicas in this country, has experienced its wettest year so far since 2012.

The spokesperson went onto say that “with the chances of things drying out being quite slim, the next step is starting to import.”

You can now buy sprout-flavoured gin (Credit: amazon.co.uk)

Read more: Shoppers divided as Asda sells Brussels Sprouts bites for 75p

Actual sprouts may end up in short supply this year, but there’s a plethora of sprout-themed products on the market.

Edinburgh distillers Pickering’s has launched a sprouts-flavoured gin for the festive period.

Believed to be a first in the gin world, reports have claimed the concoction makes use of 10,000 sprouts during production.

Matt Gammell of Pickering’s is reported to have said: “It was an interesting challenge trying to balance the unmistakable flavour of Brussels sprouts to get the taste just right – and the distillery had a very distinct aroma while the gin was being distilled.”

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Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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