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| Iceberg lettuces rationed as vegetable crisis hits supermarkets | Iceberg lettuces rationed as vegetable crisis hits supermarkets |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Supermarket giant Tesco has rationed customers to three iceberg lettuces per visit - blaming poor growing conditions in Europe for a shortage in UK stores. | |
| It said bad weather in Spain had caused "availability issues" but suppliers were working to resolve the problem. | |
| Morrisons has also limited shoppers to three heads of broccoli and three iceberg lettuces, the Daily Mail said. | Morrisons has also limited shoppers to three heads of broccoli and three iceberg lettuces, the Daily Mail said. |
| It follows a UK courgette shortage last month, after wet and cold weather in southern Europe devastated crops. | It follows a UK courgette shortage last month, after wet and cold weather in southern Europe devastated crops. |
| Customers have posted photographs on social media sites of empty lettuce shelves in Tesco stores, alongside signs asking them to limit lettuce purchases. | Customers have posted photographs on social media sites of empty lettuce shelves in Tesco stores, alongside signs asking them to limit lettuce purchases. |
| One notice read: "Due to continued weather problems in Spain there is a shortage of iceberg lettuce. | |
| "To protect the availability to all our customers, we are limiting bulk purchases to three per person. We apologise for any inconvenience caused." | "To protect the availability to all our customers, we are limiting bulk purchases to three per person. We apologise for any inconvenience caused." |
| Difficult harvest | Difficult harvest |
| A Tesco spokesperson said its supermarkets were experiencing "some availability issues" and had introduced the limit to ensure its stores did not run out of some products. | A Tesco spokesperson said its supermarkets were experiencing "some availability issues" and had introduced the limit to ensure its stores did not run out of some products. |
| A Morrisons spokesman told the Daily Mail it had introduced a cap to stop local businesses and restaurateurs buying up all of its stock. | A Morrisons spokesman told the Daily Mail it had introduced a cap to stop local businesses and restaurateurs buying up all of its stock. |
| "As a result of the fact that the Spanish harvest has been very difficult this year, we have just about enough coming in to supply our customers," a spokesman for the supermarket said. | "As a result of the fact that the Spanish harvest has been very difficult this year, we have just about enough coming in to supply our customers," a spokesman for the supermarket said. |
| Meanwhile, Sainsbury's told the paper it was working with suppliers "to maintain supply for our customers". | Meanwhile, Sainsbury's told the paper it was working with suppliers "to maintain supply for our customers". |
| Dieter Lloyd, from the British Leafy Salads Association, told BBC Radio 5 live that flooding in Spain before Christmas had damaged crops and grounds were then too wet to grow a fresh batch. | |
| The problem was then compounded by a cold snap of weather in January. | |
| He said iceberg lettuces currently being stocked in UK supermarkets had been probably grown in California, rather than in Europe. | |
| Last month fruit and vegetable wholesaler Nick Padley told BBC News that more than 90% of Europe's iceberg lettuce came from Murcia, a small region in south-east Spain. | |
| He said: "There's a gap of about six weeks on iceberg lettuce, nothing is coming from Spain for six to eight weeks. | He said: "There's a gap of about six weeks on iceberg lettuce, nothing is coming from Spain for six to eight weeks. |
| "Our supplier is now going to be bringing in iceberg from America which is obviously costing more. It's a tough time." | "Our supplier is now going to be bringing in iceberg from America which is obviously costing more. It's a tough time." |
| The supply of other vegetables - including aubergines, tomatoes, broccoli and peppers - grown in Europe is also down. | |
| 'Perfect storm' | 'Perfect storm' |
| The Spanish association of fruit and vegetable producers, FEPEX, said it expected the shortage of leafy vegetables grown outdoors, including lettuce and spinach, to continue until early April. | |
| It said EU-wide production was down by about 40% and warned that increased availability would depend on the climate in southern Europe in February and March. | |
| Experts say a combination of flooding, cold weather and poor light levels in southern Europe created a "perfect storm" for bad growing conditions. | Experts say a combination of flooding, cold weather and poor light levels in southern Europe created a "perfect storm" for bad growing conditions. |
| Spain's Murcia region supplies 80% of Europe's fresh produce during the winter. | |
| However, after suffering its heaviest rainfall in 30 years, only 30% of Murcia's growing fields have been useable. | However, after suffering its heaviest rainfall in 30 years, only 30% of Murcia's growing fields have been useable. |
| The effects of shortages are particularly pronounced in Britain, which imports an estimated 50% of its vegetables and 90% of its fruit. | The effects of shortages are particularly pronounced in Britain, which imports an estimated 50% of its vegetables and 90% of its fruit. |