Shoppers are facing weeks of fruit and vegetable shortages in supermarkets because of poor weather in Spain and Northern Africa.
Customers say they are being confronted with "desolate" supermarket shelves as severe shortages of tomatoes, strawberries and peppers hit the UK. The shortage has been caused by "difficult weather conditions" in Spain and Morocco, which have been hit by heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and snow storms.
Andrew Opie, the director of food at the British Retail Consortium said that the shortage is due to weather conditions in the south of Europe and northern Africa. He said: "Difficult weather conditions in the South of Europe and Northern Africa have disrupted harvest for some fruit and vegetables including tomatoes.
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"However, retailers 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."
Pictures from several supermarkets in the UK, including a Sainsbury's branch in England, show empty shelves on the fruit and veg aisle. One ECHO reader reported a shortage of spinach in a Liverpool ASDA and Tesco branch.
Photos also show empty Morrisons shelves, alongside a sign that say the shortage is 'likely to improve within a couple of weeks.'
A sign in one store reads: "Availability across our tomato range has been significantly impacted by adverse weather conditions across Spain and Morocco. The current shortage is likely to improve within a couple of weeks."
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