Simmons warned that additional staple vegetables could soon experience similar disruptions.
"Cauliflowers could go short in the next couple of weeks, we can see that being the next issue," he said.
Stephen Francis of Fen Peas reported that the English pea harvest has dropped by one-third, prompting growers to explore heat-tolerant European crop varieties and demand government support for farm water infrastructure.
Tim O'Malley, chair of wholesaler Nationwide Produce, stated that the ongoing water exhaustion in fields is far more severe than the public realizes.
"It is worse than the public realise. We are running out of water," O'Malley said.
He noted that field crops like leafy greens have taken the brunt of the heat wave.
"Last week we did something very unusual and went back to Spain," O'Malley said, explaining that southern European farmers are better structured for such heat.
Yorkshire carrot grower Rodger Hobson described the current growing conditions as the worst in recorded memory for his business.
"It's heartbreaking and wallet-breaking," Hobson said.
He stated that fields are rapidly deteriorating under sustained temperatures.
"Any over 25C and it goes into shutdown, anything over 30C and it pretty much starts to die.
All we can do is keep pouring water on," he said.
Impact on Dairy, Grains, and Potato Supply
In addition to root and leaf crops, UK milk production has fallen by 20%—equivalent to 18.5 million liters—due to heat stress in cattle and grass shortages.
Nicola Cannon, a professor at the Royal Agricultural University, highlighted the physiological impact of extreme heat on livestock productivity.
