Food shortages – latest: Carrots, leeks and cabbages could run low in weeks as supermarkets ration

Shelves in supermarkets in wartorn Ukraine are bursting with fresh produce as the UK suffers a shortage of fruit and vegetables.

Channel Four International Editor Lindsey Hillsum posted a picture showing plentiful stocks of tomatoes, courgettes and peppers on the shelves of a supermarket in Kherson.

Journalist John Sweeney also posted to social media from Kyiv showing shelves stocked with tomatoes.

It comes as four supermarkets in the UK have introduced limits on how many items shoppers can buy of certain products due to supply shortages.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey today said that Ireland and other parts on Europe are facing similar supply issues.

Retail experts have warned that food shortages could last for weeks.

Retailers have warned that the shortages could last for weeks as bad weather and transport problems in Africa and Europe have left supermarkets with a low supply of tomatoes and other fresh produce.

Growers and suppliers in Morocco have had to contend with cold temperatures, heavy rain, flooding and cancelled ferries over the past few weeks – all of which have affected the volume of fruit reaching Britain. Supplies from Britain’s other major winter source, Spain, have also been badly affected by bad weather.

Production problems in Morocco began in January with unusually cold night-time temperatures that affected tomato ripening.

These were compounded by ferry cancellations due to bad weather, hitting lorry deliveries. Producers in Morocco have also reported having to cut back on their use of greenhouses due to higher electricity prices.

Martha McHardy reports:

The environment secretary Therese Coffey said government officials expect food shortages “will last about another two to four weeks” – citing weather in Europe and north Africa for crop failures.

She said her department “has already been in discussion with the retailers” to discuss how to source alternative supplies. “It is why there will be further discussions led by ministers as well, so that we can try and get over this and try and avoid similar situations in the future,” said Ms Coffey.

“Even if we cannot control the weather it is important that we try and make sure the supply continues to not be frustrated in quite the way it has been due to these unusual weather incidents,” she added.

The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to convene an emergency Cobra meeting after supermarkets – including Tesco, Aldi, ASDA and Morrisons – placed limits on the amount of fruit and vegetables customers can buy.

Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine said people were “rightly alarmed” by empty shelves and said the government appeared to have “no urgent plan to fix it”.

“We need an urgent Cobra meeting, together with food experts, supermarkets and farmers, to hammer out an urgent solution to this crisis. Ministers cannot just sit on their hands while food supply chains across the country grind to a halt.”

Tory cabinet minister Therese Coffey has suggested people struggling to afford their soaring food bills could consider working more hours.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell could be heard saying “that’s appalling” as the environment secretary replied to her concerns about food banks in York running out of stock.

Ms Coffey also said the widespread shortage of some fruits and vegetables – which has seen supermarkets introduce rationing – may last as long as another month.

Adam Forrest reports:

Four British supermarkets have introduced purchase limits for customers following shortages of fresh produce.

Asda announced it will be limiting customers to a maximum of three items such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and broccoli in response to the problem.

Customers will also be limited to three bags of salad, cauliflower and raspberries.

Morrisons will also start a ban on more than two items, limiting purchases of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.

Aldi is limiting purchases of peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes to three units per person.

While Tesco joined the growing list of stores to impose customer purchase limits on salad vegetables on Wednesday afternoon.

Kate Plummer reports:

Consumers have been reassured they can expect to see “significant volumes” of British tomatoes on supermarket shelves by the end of March as retailers impose buying limits to cope with a shortage.

The British Tomato Growers Association (BTGA) said shortages are mainly down to a lack of imports but the local growing season is due to begin soon.

The BTGA said in a statement: “Many people have commented on the current lack of fresh tomatoes in some supermarket stores.

“Whilst this is predominantly a consequence of the lack of imported product at this time of year, the British season will soon begin and we expect significant volumes of British tomatoes on shelves by the end of March and into April 2023.

Seasonal eating would solve the shortage of tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables, a Conservative MP has suggested.

MP for North Devon Selaine Saxby asked in the Commons: “I wonder if my right honourable friend agrees with me that actually the supermarkets are still importing far too many produce for us and that actually we should be eating more seasonally and supporting our own British farmers?

“And if we were actually to move to a seasonal line of eating, many of these problems would be avoided and that there are great food products available from local farmers at this time?”

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey replied: “It’s important to make sure that we cherish the specialisms that we have in this country.

“A lot of people would be eating turnips right now rather than thinking necessarily about aspects of lettuce, and tomatoes and similar but I’m conscious that consumers want a year-round choice and that is what our supermarkets, food producers and growers around the world try to satisfy.”

Seasonal eating would solve the shortage of tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables, a Conservative MP has suggested.

The Environment Secretary said she hopes shortages of fruit and vegetables “will be a temporary issue”.

Therese Coffey was speaking after Labour MP Clive Efford (Eltham) told the lower chamber: “I always knew that Conservatives were a bunch of bean counters, but this is really off the scale. The fact (is) that our supermarkets have had to impose a form of food rationing, whilst the chief bean counter comes to the despatch box and says ‘crisis, what crisis?’

“Now, does she agree with the president of the NFU, Minette Batters, who’s accused the Government of a dereliction of duty for failing to ensure we have a fit-for-purpose post-Brexit set of border checks on agricultural imports?”

Ms Coffey said Mr Efford should “withdraw” the phrases he used because “I didn’t use those words at the despatch box”, before adding: “I have recognised and we do recognise this particular issue right now - that’s why the department is already in discussion with retailers, it’s why the minister will be meeting the retailers.”

She added that “the primary source for goods right now is from an area that was affected by very unusual weather before and after Christmas”, adding: “That’s something that supply chain has to try and manage. Right now, the supermarkets have chosen a particular way, that’s why we will continue to meet them and I’m hoping that this will be a temporary issue.

“This volatility is unwelcome but I’m conscious that our supply chain is resilient and that we will continue to invest in our farmers for generations to come.”

The Environment Secretary said she hopes shortages of fruit and vegetables “will be a temporary issue”.

Shortages of some fruits and vegetables may last as long as another month, the Environment Secretary told the Commons.

Therese Coffey told MPs: “I am led to believe by my officials after discussion with industry and retailers, we anticipate the situation will last about another two to four weeks.

“It is important that we try and make sure that we get alternative sourcing options. That is why the department has already been in discussion with the retailers.

“It is why there will be further discussions led by ministers as well, so that we can try and get over this and try and avoid similar situations in the future.

“Even if we cannot control the weather it is important that we try and make sure the supply continues to not be frustrated in quite the way it has been due to these unusual weather incidents.”

Ms Coffey also warned Labour to “be careful about making sure that we continue to have confidence in the food supply chain” as shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon asked a question on the issue.

Shortages of some fruits and vegetables may last as long as another month, the Environment Secretary told the Commons.