Where’s all the veg? York supermarkets cleared out of fresh produce as more shortages are forecast
This was the view greeting shoppers in one York supermarket this afternoon (Friday).
Baskets that are usually brimming over with fruit and vegetables were totally out of stock at Asda, Monks Cross.
Forlorn customers were left to peruse the message: “We have fresh deliveries daily and are working hard to bring you more of our products.”
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This week, Tesco, Aldi, Asda and Morrisons introduced customer limits on certain fresh produce as shortages left shelves bare.
An initial shortage of tomatoes in UK supermarkets has since widened to other fruit and vegetables due to a combination of bad weather and transport problems in Africa and Europe.
Tesco and Aldi are limiting customers to three of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, while Asda is also limiting customers on lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries, and Morrisons has set a limit of two items per customer across tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.
Retailers believe the problems stem from poor yields on the continent and north Africa, and that supplies will improve in the coming days or weeks.
Meanwhile, another veg is about to become scarce.
Growers are warning of a leek shortage that will see British-grown supplies exhausted by April.
High temperatures and a lack of rain, followed by a period of cold weather, are being blamed for creating the “most difficult season ever”.
The Lea Valley Growers Association has said some of the UK’s major growers are delaying planting crops because of high energy costs.