More supermarkets are limiting how much fruit and veg customers can buy from today

More supermarkets across the UK are limiting how much fruit and veg customers can buy amid shortages.

Unfavourable weather conditions have disrupted supply chains, leading to empty shelves - but these issues are expected to be short term and people have been assured there is no need to panic.

Asda has set a limit of three per customer on the following items: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower, and raspberries.

And from today (Wednesday 22 February), Morrisons will be introducing a cap of two items per customer across tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.

Other supermarkets are understood to be considering similar measures.

Gerard Ferry / Alamy Stock Photo

Tesco has also had supply issues with tomatoes and peppers, with shoppers sharing photos of empty shelves on social media. However, the supermarket currently has no limits in place, and shortages in specific stores do not reflect overall availability, with deliveries arriving at regular intervals across the country.

Sainsbury's also doesn't have limits on fruit and veg purchases at present.

A spokesperson for Asda told LADbible: "Like other supermarkets, we are experiencing sourcing challenges on some products that are grown in southern Spain and north Africa.

"We have introduced a temporary limit of three of each product on a very small number of fruit and vegetable lines, so customers can pick up the products they are looking for."

Growers and suppliers in Morocco have had to contend with cold temperatures, heavy rain, flooding and cancelled ferries over the past three to four weeks – all of which have affected the volume of fruit reaching the UK.

Supplies from Britain's other major winter source, Spain, have also been badly affected by weather.

PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

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, affecting lorry deliveries.

The disruption is expected to last a few weeks, but UK producers are beginning to move into their growing season, which is expected to ease the longer term situation.

Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Difficult weather conditions in the South of Europe and Northern Africa have disrupted harvest for some fruit and vegetables including tomatoes and peppers.

"While disruption is expected to last a few weeks, supermarkets are adept at managing supply chain issues and are working with farmers to ensure that customers are able to access a wide range of fresh produce."