Now supermarkets run out of turnips — a day after Minister urged people to eat them instead of tomatoes

SUPERMARKETS have now run out of turnips — a day after people were urged to eat them instead of tomatoes.

Stores yesterday suggested shoppers switch to swedes instead.

There was a rush on root veg after food supply minister Therese Coffey suggested turnips as a solution to the shortages of salad crops.

All the major supermarkets apart from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose have rationed tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers in a bid to prevent panic buying.

Earlier this week Lidl stopped mum Lisa Fearns, 49, from buying 100 cucumbers for her detox business at a Merseyside store.

Meanwhile growers have warned supplies of leeks could run out before St David’s Day next week. Harvests have been hit by a lack of rainfall and extremely cold weather.

The Leek Growers Association said leeks were in short supply as farmers “are facing their most difficult season ever”.

Despite empty shelves at many stores Sir Robert Goodwill, Tory chairman of the environment, food and rural affairs committee, insisted yesterday: “There’s loads of good produce — there’s good UK-grown parsnips, leeks.” 

He did however admit: “Turnips are great, but you can’t eat them every single meal.”

Growers fear shortages will last until next month as it will take that long for crops to grow in the UK with planting only starting in earnest next week.

Retailers blame disrupted harvests in Spain, Morocco and North Africa for the current shortages. Most salad crops sold in our supermarkets during the colder months are imported from those regions.