Supermarket giant makes big change to rules to help keep food on shelves – have you noticed?

A SUPERMARKET chain is temporarily accepting some smaller-than-usual vegetables from flood-hit farmers.

One grower reported that sprouts were growing underwater due to flooding and that it was a race against the clock to pull vegetables from the ground before they rotted.

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A relaxation on size requirements by Tesco on sprouts, cauliflowers, cabbages and leeks is helping to keep British vegetables on the shelves rather than imports and to reduce the risk of shortages.

The supermarket said farmers will still supply them with more of their crop, and avoid having to sell at lower prices on the open market.

Heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding has affected growers around the country, including in Lincolnshire, East Anglia, Cornwall and Scotland.

One of the biggest growers of winter vegetables, TH Clements, based near Boston in Lincolnshire, reported that there have only had a handful of dry days since October which has made harvesting difficult.

John Moulding, TH Clements commercial director, said: “This is the worst flooding we have had this century, and we have lost about 20% of our total winter crops, including sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower and leeks.

“It’s been a very tough time for us for more than three months, both physically and financially, in having to pull the vegetables out of the muddy fields.

“We have literally had to race against the clock to get the vegetables pulled out of the ground to stop them from rotting.

“The flexibility that Tesco has given us has allowed us to maximise the amount of product we can get on their shelves, therefore guaranteeing greater availability for shoppers.”

Sprouts were a particular problem due to their size, and some were growing underwater due to the flooding.

In order to dry the wet sprouts, Tesco worked with growers to develop a new drying method, using cool air blowers to blow the water off them in their storage pallets.

Tom Mackintosh, Tesco fresh produce and horticulture director, said: “By accepting slightly smaller sprouts, cauliflower, cabbages and leeks, we can support the fresh produce industry while ensuring that customers can continue to buy British winter vegetables.

“We’re pleased to be able to provide support to our growers, farmers and suppliers who are facing really challenging harvesting conditions.”

Vegetable shortages last hit supermarkets in February 2023 when harvests when harvests took a battering by floods, snow and hail in Spain and Morocco.

These harvests usually supply the bulk of the UK’s winter salad crop, leaving us short.

In the UK, farmers were hit by soaring prices of gas and fertiliser needed to grow crops and heat greenhouses.

The main items affected were those which are grown in glass houses, according to the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).

As a result, production of salad ingredients in Britain would fall to the lowest levels since records began in 1985 because of rising costs.

Back in 2017, poor growing conditions in Europe – mostly Italy and Spain – meant there was a lack of vegetable stock for Brits.

Experts estimated the shortage would cost UK supermarkets at least £8million.

There was also concern in 2018 that an onion shortage could occur because of hot weather which damaged crops.

In the same year, hot weather also hindered the growth of peas.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk