Weather issues in Spain and Morocco mean that your weekly shop could look quite different in the coming weeks.
If you’re a fan of berries and usually pop them in your trolley during your weekly shop, you may struggle to find them this week. Weather issues in the regions where they’re grown have led to shortages of certain fruits and veggies on supermarket shelves.
However, shoppers are being urged not to resort to panic buying, as it’ll only make the issue worse. Persistent rain across the UK and Europe is playing havoc with some fruit and vegetable crops.
According to The Grocer’s analysis, strawberries are bearing the brunt, with noticeable gaps on the shelves at Tesco, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Asda.
The supply problems stem from weeks of wet weather in Spain and Morocco. A ‘significant proportion’ of the UK’s fresh produce comes from these areas at this time of year, reports the Express.
Strawberry producer Freshuelva has warned that exports could be slashed by 50% compared to last year, with the storms “affecting both crops and production and handling infrastructure.”
The Fresh Produce Consortium recently highlighted the supply issues supermarkets are grappling with, warning: “Shoppers may see price increases as the market adjusts to limited supply. We urge consumers to be aware, but panic buying will only make matters worse.”
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Similarly, The Grocer uncovered problems with raspberry supplies, whilst peppers and avocados have also faced restrictions at certain supermarkets.
A YouGov survey reveals strawberries reign supreme as Britain’s favourite fruit – meaning these potential shortfalls could hit countless households’ weekly shopping trips.
Produce specialists at FreshDirect say they’ll be working hard to ensure customers can still get their hands on their favourite fruits.
They explained: “We are likely to see particular problems over the next week or so on blackberries and raspberries, due to the lack of other viable origins. We will be working with our suppliers to try to minimise the impact on customers.”
