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- UK supermarkets are facing a shortage of fruit and veg
- Asda has introduced a limit on items such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers
- The shortage is due to bad weather and transport problems
- Retailers have warned it could last weeks
- Follow this blog for updates on what shelves in Southampton look like
- Reporting by Lily Lemoine
Sainsbury's, Bedford Place
Sainsbury's in Bedford Place is fully stocked but there is still a disclaimer about the shortages.
Sainsbury's in Bedford Place is fully stocked (Image: Newsquest)
Impact of shortage
Another shopper says she's been spending more on food due to the more expensive options being the only ones available.
Esme Keenleyside, 20, said: “It’s been a case of going to a few different shops before I’m able to get what I actually want and then when it comes to what I want, I’m having to buy the more expensive version which is annoying or having to make more expensive meals.
“I eat mainly plant-based so I’m having to buy quorn or veggie alternatives instead of just vegetables so plant-based version of meats and it takes time out of my day having to go to different shops.”
Asda, Portland Terrace
Asda has brought in a customer limit of three on tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries.
Despite this, stocks are still running low at its store in Portland Terrace.
The fruit and veg aisle at Asda (Image: Daily Echo)
Notices explaining the sale limit (Image: Newsquest)
Lidl, High Street
Lidl on High Street is out of peppers and running low on tomatoes.
A notice informs customers the shortage of peppers is due to adverse weather conditions in Spain and Morocco.
A notice in the Lidl store on Southampton High Street (Image: Newsquest)
Empty shelves in Lidl on Southampton High Street (Image: Daily Echo)
'It's a struggle'
Luke Edge, 29, says the shortage means he has to travel further or to more than one store to find what he needs.
He said: “I’ve noticed, particularly in the smaller shops, that it’s been quite difficult to get what you want.
“I’ve got two young kids, I find myself having to traipse to bigger stores - I can’t just pop round the corner and grab healthy things to eat so you’re left with the choice of having to either go on this massive adventure to get the stuff you want or buy them chocolate and crisps, which they probably love but in the long run might not be best for them so I think it’s definitely a struggle at the minute.”
He added: “You’ve got to be less fussy, I always get in trouble with the other half because she sends me to pick something up and it isn’t there - she thinks I just didn’t look hard enough but it’s genuinely just a shortage.
“I’ll have to send her to do the shopping from now on but I think it’s definitely harder to be specific with what you want to eat, I think you’ve got to be a little bit more flexible, or as I said, willing to go to two or three shops to find what you want.”
Shopper Luke Edge (Image: Newsquest)
Tesco Express, Ocean Village
This is the situation at Tesco Express in Ocean Village.
Fruit such as raspberries and grapes is missing from the shelves.
A few empty shelves in the Tesco Express store in Ocean Village (Image: Newsquest)
Fruit and veg shortage
UK supermarkets are being hit by a shortage of fruit and vegetables likely to last for weeks.
A combination of bad weather and transport problems in Africa and Europe is resulting in empty shelves across all the major retailers.
It's affecting produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lettuce.
Asda has already introduced a customer limit of three on certain items and other supermarkets are expected to follow suit.
Follow this live feed for information on how the shortage is affecting stores across the city.
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