Fruit and vegetable shortage could last until May, smaller shops thrive
Christian Fernsby ▼ | February 24, 2023
A shortage of some fruit and vegetables could last until May, according to producers in one of the UK's biggest growing regions.Article continues below
The Lea Valley Growers Association said major UK growers were delaying planting some crops due to high energy costs.
Major UK supermarkets have been placing limits on fruit and vegetable sales after shortages.
The government and industry have blamed bad weather in Spain and North Africa for the squeeze.
The association has around 80 members across an area that includes Greater London, Hertfordshire and Essex.
The shortages of fruit and vegetables have been put down to bad weather in southern Europe and Africa, as well as high energy prices that have meant some producers are reducing the amount of greenhouse growing in the UK and the Netherlands.
A farm shop on the border of Shropshire and the Black Country has been enjoying a busy couple of days following shortages of some fruits and vegetables that have hit UK supermarkets.
Lee's Farm Shop near Claverley, which has just been taken over by new management, says there has been an increase in the number of people through the doors since supermarkets announced the rationing of some produce.
But Craig Simmons, who took over the running of Lee's Farm Shop in January this year from owner Bob Lee, said there is plenty of produce available but that shoppers just have to be willing to pay higher prices at the moment.
"The wholesalers are full of produce but you have to be willing to pay for it, which I don't think the supermarkets are," he said. ■ What to read next
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