Huge supermarkets like Aldi and Tesco have had to limit the sale of some fruit and veg due to supply shortages.
Items like cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers are running low in the UK after bad weather in regions of Europe and Africa, where they're grown, has disrupted the harvest. The problem started with tomatoes but has since widened to peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries.
Huge supermarkets like Tesco, Aldi, Asda and Morrisons have had to implement a limit to number of items people can purchase to ensure as many people can access their fresh fruit and vegetables.
READ MORE: Cafe praised as 'safe haven' for coffee lovers announces closure
Tesco and Aldi have introduced limits of three per customer on sales of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Asda is limiting customers to three on sales of lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflowers and raspberry punnets, along with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Morrisons has set a limit of two on cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and peppers.
Discover, learn, grow. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
What is causing the shortage?
In the winter months the UK imports around 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuces, most of it from Spain and north Africa. Growers and suppliers in Morocco have had to contend with cold temperatures, heavy rain, flooding and cancelled ferries over the past three to four weeks – all of which have affected the volume of fruit reaching Britain.
The UK also gets some produce at this time of year from domestic growers and the Netherlands, but producers in both countries have reported cutting back on their use of greenhouses because of high energy prices.
The British Retail Consortium said disruption was expected to last a few weeks. Retailers have stressed that buying limits are temporary until supplies improve in the coming days or weeks, helped by the UK moving into its growing season.
READ NEXT:
'I tried going two days without using a phone, it was hardest thing I've done'
Cider shoppers obsessed with viral £30 dress that 'looks so gorgeous'
Woman discovers 'gross' surprise in her PrettyLittleThing delivery
Mango shoppers praise 'cute' £60 dupe of a £3,210 designer Coperni bag
New Spotify feature lets you exclude playlists from your taste profile
