Supermarkets in the UK are limiting sales of fruits and veggies, impacted by disrupted overseas harvests in southern Europe and north Africa. Extreme weather is thought to be the prime reason for the reduced harvest.
Two of the biggest supermarkets in the UK, Morrisons and Asda have controlled the sales of fresh produce like tomatoes, potatoes, cucumber, peppers, lettuce and broccoli.
The spokesperson of Asda said: “Like other supermarkets, we are experiencing sourcing challenges on some products that are grown in southern Spain and north Africa.”
Customers can now buy only two or three packs of these items from the stores.
Supermarkets including the market leaders Tesco and Sainsbury’s also were affected by shortage of perishables.
The British Retail Consortium, which represents all the major supermarkets, said the supply issues were industrywide.
Minette Batters, The National Farmers’ Union president, on the NFU’s annual conference in Birmingham said: “Domestic production of salad, including cucumbers and tomatoes, has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1985.”
The situation in the UK was worsened by less winter production in greenhouses in Britain and the Netherlands due to high energy costs.
Supermarket managers are expecting the crisis to continue for the coming weeks and customers are asked to co-operate.