TWO more major supermarkets have announced they will ration fruit and vegetables.
Tesco and Aldi are the latest chains to put buying limits on fresh produce.
SWNSTesco and Aldi are the latest chains to ration fresh produce[/caption]
Both of the supermarkets will be limiting peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes to three per customer.
An Aldi spokesperson said this is “to ensure that as many customers as possible can buy what they need”.
It comes after Asda and Morrisons both announced the rationing of certain products yesterday.
Shoppers have been faced with empty shelves at their local supermarkets.
Shortages have been caused by the unusually cold weather in Spain and Morocco.
Floods, snow and hail have hit harvests which usually supply the bulk of our winter salad crop.
Britain imports around 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuces, most from the affected region, during the winter months.
UK farmers have cut back owing to soaring prices of gas and fertiliser required to grow crops and heat their greenhouses.
This isn’t the first time shoppers have seen shortages at the supermarket because of unusual weather.
Back in 2017, poor growing conditions in Europe – mostly Italy and Spain – meant there was a lack of vegetable stock.
Experts 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 causing damage to crops.
In the same year, hot weather also stunted the growth of peas.
The British Retail Consortium said shortages are expected to last a few weeks until the UK growing season begins and retailers found alternative suppliers.
Tesco
Tesco has put a buying limit in place on peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.
Each customer can buy three items per person.
The supermarket giant said it is working hard with suppliers to ensure a good supply of vegetables for customers
Aldi
Aldi has revealed that it will be putting a limit of three units per customer.
These items include tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.
Asda
Asda has introduced a limit of three each per customer of the following items:
TomatoesPeppersCucumbersLettuce,Salad bags,BroccoliCauliflowerRaspberries
A spokesman for the supermarket said: “Like other supermarkets, we are experiencing sourcing challenges on some products that are grown in southern Spain and north Africa.
“We have introduced a temporary limit of three of each product on a very small number of fruit and vegetable lines, so customers can pick up the products they are looking for.”
Morrisons
Morrisons is to introduce a maximum cap of two items per customer.
The new rules will come in at all its stores from today, February 22.
The limits will apply to tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.
Co-op
A spokesman for The Co-Op told The Sun it has no plans to ration fruit and vegetables at this time.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s said it does not currently have any plans to bring in purchase limits for shoppers.
Lidl
German discounter Lidl said it doesn’t currently have plans to put limits in place.
Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer told The Sun it currently has no plans to introduce a buying limit on fruit and vegetables.
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