SUPERMARKETS have seen a shortage of fruit and vegetables in recent weeks, leaving shoppers facing rations.
But what has caused the lack of fresh produce and what products are affected? We explain all.
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Essentially, the shortage of a variety of products like tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce has largely been caused by poor weather conditions abroad.
Over the winter period, the vast majority of the UK’s salad stock comes from regions that have been hit by particularly cold weather.
These include Spain and Morocco, which have both been hit by hail, floods and snow over the past few weeks.
It’s meant that supermarkets haven’t been able to stock fully stocks shelves, which in turn has led to empty baskets for shoppers.
Some big chains, including Asda and Aldi, have now brought in limits on how many items a shopper can buy in order to ensure there’s enough for everyone.
What fruit and veg is there a shortage of?
Fresh fruit and veg are affected by the shortages, but not all products are affected.
The following items have been rationed at supermarkets right now:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce
- Salad bags
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Raspberries
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Aubergines could also be affected, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has said.
Plus spinach and spring onions are also affected by shortages, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) confirmed to The Sun.
However, there are currently no buying limits in place for these three items at major supermarkets.
Which supermarkets are rationing fruit and vegetables?
For Asda shoppers, there’s a limit on all eight of the items above.
You can only currently buy three of each of them at all the 630 Asda stores.
As of February 22, Morrisons has put a cap of two items per person, on four of the items including tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and peppers.
So, you’ll still be able to buy as many salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries as you’d like.
This limit is in place at all of Morrisons’ 497 stores, though stock can vary between locations.
Aldi and Tesco are the latest to bring in measures limiting how many products shoppers can buy.
They have both imposed limits of three items per customer on peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.
The limits apply at all of Tesco’s 2,829 and Aldi’s 990 stores.
Shoppers can buy other produce without any limits, but again availability can vary.
There are no limits currently in place at Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, M&S and Waitrose.
Other fresh fruit and veg has not been rationed at supermarkets, but some shoppers have reported struggling to get hold of other items.
Make sure to bear in mind that levels of stock can vary from one store to the next, and from day to day.
See our story for the full list of supermarkets that have not rationed vegetables.
Why are there fruit and veg shortages?
Vegetable harvests have been hit by floods, snow and hail in Spain and Morocco.
The bulk of the UK’s winter salad supplies is usually provided by these harvests, leaving our shelves empty.
Over the colder months, Britain imports about 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuce.
The majority of which come from the regions affected by the poor weather.
Meanwhile, in the UK, farmers have been hit by rocketing gas and fertiliser prices.
The main items affected are those which are grown in glass houses, according to the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).
The union has warned that production of salad ingredients in Britain would fall to the lowest levels since records began in 1985 because of rising costs.
UK vegetable stock being affected by bad weather is not uncommon.
Shoppers have seen shortages in the past on supermarket shelves because of bad weather.
Previously in 2017, poor growing conditions in Europe – largely in Italy and Spain – meant Brits saw a lack of vegetable stock in their local shops.
Experts at the time 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 damaging crops.
In the same year, the growth of peas was also impacted by hot weather.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
