SUPERMARKETS are imposing buying limits for customers as fruit and vegetables shortages hit the shelves.
It comes as retailers struggle to get hold of fruit and vegetables.
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Asda has introduced a customer limit on some items and Morrisons is to follow suit tomorrow.
A combination of bad weather and transport problems in Africa and Europe has left shops bare of fresh produce.
It is understood other supermarkets are also considering similar measures.
Retailers believe the shortages stem from poor yields and that supplies will improve in the coming days or weeks.
Growers and suppliers in Morocco have had to contend with unusually cold temperatures, heavy rain, flooding and cancelled ferries over the past three to four weeks.
All of this has affected the volume of fruit reaching Britain.
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, which represents UK supermarkets, said: “While disruption is expected to last a few weeks, supermarkets are adept at managing supply chain issues and are working with farmers to ensure that customers are able to access a wide range of fresh produce.”
The problems have been worse by ferry cancellations due to bad weather, hitting lorry deliveries.
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Producers have also reported having to cut back on their use of greenhouses due to higher electricity prices.
This isn’t the first time shoppers have faced shortages at the supermarket because of unusual weather.
Poor growing conditions in Europe – mostly Italy and Spain – meant there was a lack of vegetable stock in 2017.
Experts estimated the shortage would cost UK supermarkets at least £8million.
Signs warning customers they can only buy limited numbers of certain items sprung up in stores.
Online shoppers are unable to order basic vegetables such as lettuces as they are out of stock.
There was also concern in 2018 that an onion shortage was on the horizon because of hot weather causing damage to crops.
In the same year, hot weather also stunted the growth of peas.
Below we list all the measures supermarkets are introducing to deal with the shortages.
Asda
Asda has introduced a customer limit of three each of the following items:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce,
- Salad bags,
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Raspberries
A spokesman for the supermarket said: “Like other supermarkets, we are experiencing sourcing challenges on some products that are grown in southern Spain and north Africa.
“We have introduced a temporary limit of three of each product on a very small number of fruit and vegetable lines, so customers can pick up the products they are looking for.”
Morrisons
Morrisons is to introduce a maximum cap of two items per customers across tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers from tomorrow.
Tesco
Tesco said it does not currently have any buying limits in place.
The supermarket giant said it is “working hard to ensure good availability for customers”.
Co-op
A spokesman for The Co-Op told The Sun it has no plans to ration fruit and vegetables at this time.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s said it does not currently have any plans to bring in purchase limits for shoppers.
Lidl
German discounter Lidl said it doesn’t currently have plans to put limits in place.
Aldi
The Sun has contacted Aldi for comment and we will update this story once we know more.
Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer told The Sun it currently has no plans to introduce a buying limit on fruit and vegetables.
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