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| Iceberg lettuces rationed as vegetable crisis hits supermarkets | Iceberg lettuces rationed as vegetable crisis hits supermarkets |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 it had introduced the limit to ensure its stores did not run out of some products. | A Tesco spokesperson said it 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," he 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," he 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 the BBC that flooding in Spain before Christmas had damaged crops, and grounds were then too wet to grow a fresh batch. | Dieter Lloyd, from the British Leafy Salads Association, told the BBC that flooding in Spain before Christmas had damaged crops, and grounds were then too wet to grow a fresh batch. |
| The problem was compounded by a cold snap of weather in January, stopping farmers going out and planting. | The problem was compounded by a cold snap of weather in January, stopping farmers going out and planting. |
| "Southern Spain provides around 80% of the fresh produce for the EU out of season, so it is not just the UK," he told BBC Radio 5Live. | "Southern Spain provides around 80% of the fresh produce for the EU out of season, so it is not just the UK," he told BBC Radio 5Live. |
| "There are still stocks coming in, albeit at a reduced rate - I have seen it is as low as 30-50% of what we normally have - but the challenge is we are not the only people buying it. | "There are still stocks coming in, albeit at a reduced rate - I have seen it is as low as 30-50% of what we normally have - but the challenge is we are not the only people buying it. |
| "With Germany, France and the rest of the EU too, the people who are prepared to pay are going to get it." | "With Germany, France and the rest of the EU too, the people who are prepared to pay are going to get it." |
| And Mr Lloyd said there was not a clear end in sight to the shortage. | And Mr Lloyd said there was not a clear end in sight to the shortage. |
| "This won't solve itself this month or next," he added. | "This won't solve itself this month or next," he added. |
| "For this season, their crop has been devastated." | "For this season, their crop has been devastated." |
| 'Tough time' | 'Tough time' |
| Iceberg lettuces currently being stocked in UK supermarkets have probably been grown in California, rather than Europe. | Iceberg lettuces currently being stocked in UK supermarkets have probably been grown in California, rather than Europe. |
| Last month, fruit and vegetable wholesaler Nick Padley told BBC News that getting the crop elsewhere came at a cost. | Last month, fruit and vegetable wholesaler Nick Padley told BBC News that getting the crop elsewhere came at a cost. |
| 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. | The supply of other vegetables - including aubergines, tomatoes, broccoli and peppers - grown in Europe is also down. |
| 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. | 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. |