A cheesemonger has identified what he calls a 'vicious circle' driving the cost-of-living crisis, which turns out to be largely about dried fruit prices behaving badly. Steve Reid, who owns The Northampton Cheese Company and The Northampton Charcuterie Company, told Politics East that some of his ingredients have more than doubled in price, turning budget-friendly chutneys into luxury goods.
Reid, 57, who operates from Northampton Market, offered specific evidence of the betrayal: dried apricots that were £35 for a 12kg box just 12 months ago now cost £100. Sultanas went from £23 per 10kg box to about £60. 'Everything has virtually doubled,' he said, making it harder to sell products without triggering further consumer revolt.
Meanwhile, farmer Philip Weston, 40, from Hartwell, Northamptonshire, is threatening more protests, having already participated in blockades at transport hubs and food depots earlier this year. Weston, who farms 300 acres (121 hectares), warned that if fertiliser costs don't come down, he'll seriously consider reducing arable crop production. He also took a swipe at the Labour government for not rolling back a planned fertiliser tax, adding: 'Change needs to be brought about now.'
The Bank of England has weighed in with a cheery forecast that food prices could rise by 7% by the end of the year. Shopper Maria Agachi, who moved from Moldova to Northampton five years ago, noted that salt has gone from around 30p to over £1, but she's adapting: 'I eat more chicken than red meat these days, just looking after the pennies.'
A government spokesperson insisted they are working with farmers to ensure 'the sector gets the backing it needs,' citing increased fertiliser price reporting and an extended 5p fuel duty cut with red diesel enjoying an 80% tax discount, saving farmers about £300m a year. Whether that's enough to keep apricots affordable remains to be seen.