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| Iceberg lettuces and broccoli rationed as vegetable crisis hits supermarkets | Iceberg lettuces and broccoli rationed as vegetable crisis hits supermarkets |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Some supermarkets are rationing the amount of iceberg lettuce and broccoli customers can buy - blaming poor growing conditions in southern Europe for a shortage in UK stores. | Some supermarkets are rationing the amount of iceberg lettuce and broccoli customers can buy - blaming poor growing conditions in southern Europe for a shortage in UK stores. |
| Tesco is limiting shoppers to three iceberg lettuces, as bad weather in Spain caused "availability issues". | Tesco is limiting shoppers to three iceberg lettuces, as bad weather in Spain caused "availability issues". |
| Morrisons has a limit of two icebergs to stop "bulk buying", and is limiting broccoli to three heads per visit. | Morrisons has a limit of two icebergs to stop "bulk buying", and is limiting broccoli to three heads per visit. |
| Asda said courgette stocks were still low after a UK shortage last month. | |
| However, budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have told the BBC they are not affected. | However, budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have told the BBC they are not affected. |
| 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 |
| Morrisons said its availability of broccoli and iceberg lettuce was good and prices had not been affected - but because other businesses were experiencing shortages, there had been some bulk buying in its stores. | |
| "We have therefore had a cap on sales of broccoli and iceberg lettuce to ensure we maintain good supplies for our regular customers. | "We have therefore had a cap on sales of broccoli and iceberg lettuce to ensure we maintain good supplies for our regular customers. |
| "As you can imagine, most customers don't buy more than three broccoli at a time." | "As you can imagine, most customers don't buy more than three broccoli at a time." |
| The Co-op told the BBC it was not limiting purchases at the moment, but it was asking customers to "shop responsibly". | The Co-op told the BBC it was not limiting purchases at the moment, but it was asking customers to "shop responsibly". |
| Sainsbury's said severe weather had affected the produce it sold, but it was working with suppliers to "maintain supply for our customers." | Sainsbury's said severe weather had affected the produce it sold, but it was working with suppliers to "maintain supply for our customers." |
| And Asda apologised to customers that some of its stocks on vegetables were low because of the weather, naming courgettes and aubergines in particular. | |
| 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. |
| Have vegetables been stolen from your garden or allotment. Have you experienced shortages in your local supermarket? Tell us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk and share your pictures with us on yourpics@bbc.co.uk | |
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