Another major supermarket starts rationing fruit and veg – full list of shops with limits in place

ANOTHER major supermarket is rationing fruit and vegetables in stores.

Lidl is the latest chain to put buying limits on fresh produce amid widespread shortages.

The discount supermarket is limiting purchases of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers to three per customer.

The limit has been brought in to ensure customers have access to all produce, the chain said.

Although it says it still has good availability in stores.

A Lidl spokesperson said: “As advised to our customers through signage in our stores last week, adverse weather conditions in Spain and Morocco have recently impacted the availability of certain salad items across the supermarket sector.

"Whilst we still have good availability across the majority of our stores, due to a recent increase in demand we have taken the decision to temporarily limit the purchase of peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers to three items per person.

"This will help to ensure that all of our customers have access to the products they need.”

It comes as four major chains introduced similar limits last week in a bid to preserve stock.

Shoppers have been faced with empty shelves at their local stores due to unusually cold weather abroad.

Floods, snow and hail have hit harvests in Spain and Morocco which usually supply the bulk of the UK's winter salad supply.

Over winter, Britain imports around 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuce from abroad.

Meanwhile, here in the UK, farmers have been hit by soaring gas and fertiliser prices affecting home grown produce too.

The main items affected are those which are grown in glass houses, according to the National Farmers' Union (NFU).

The British Retail Consortium said shortages are expected to last a few weeks until the UK growing season begins and retailers found alternative suppliers.

Bosses at major supermarkets are said to have been summoned for crisis talks with government ministers in order to attempt to solve the shortages.

The NFU has warned that shortages of some fruit and vegetables in supermarkets could be "the tip of the iceberg".

The main items which are in short supply are tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers - although some supermarkets have brought in limits on others too.

Here is the full list of supermarkets that have introduced measures and the items affected.

Lidl

German discounter Lidl has brought in limits of three items per customer.

The limit is in place for the following: tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

Tesco

Tesco also has a buying limit in place on peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Each customer can buy three items each at the checkouts.

The supermarket giant said it is working hard with suppliers to ensure a good supply of vegetables for customers.

The limits are in place at all of Tesco's 804 stores.

Aldi

Aldi has put a limit in place on various items too.

The supermarket said there is now cap of three items per customer for three fresh products.

These items are tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

Limits are in place at all of Aldi's 990 stores.

Asda

Asda introduced buying limits on eight different fruits and veg products last week.

Shoppers can only get three each of the following items:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Cucumbers
• Lettuce,
• Salad bags,
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Raspberries

A spokesman for the supermarket said: “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.”

The cap on what you can buy applies at all of Asda's 630 stores.

Morrisons

Morrisons has in place a maximum cap of two items per customer.

The new rules came in at all its 497 stores from February 22.

The limits will apply to tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.

Co-op

A spokesman for The Co-Op told The Sun it has no plans to ration fruit and vegetables at this time.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's still does not have any plans to bring in purchase limits for shoppers.

Marks and Spencer

Marks and Spencer told The Sun it currently has no plans to introduce buying limits on fruit and vegetables.

For the full list of affected items see our story.

Meanwhile, we've rounded up everything you need to know on why there's a shortage.

Plus, a UK farmer has claimed he knows the real reason for the lack of veg on shelves.

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