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Original poster

Why is it so hard to get fruit and salad?

279 replies

ItWillWash · 21/02/2023 05:45

Is it my area or a widespread thing?

I'm trying to order a small same-day delivery so I have lunches and breakfasts for today and tomorrow until I can do a big shop.

Morrisons have suspended deliveries on Uber due to low stock. Tesco is sold out of all varieties of tomatoes, pineapples and grapes and also don't have the yogurts I like. Asda has sold out of lettuce, cucumber, and grapes. Iceland have sold out of lettuce and cucumbers.

It was the same last time I tried to order food online. What's going on?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Badbadbunny · 22/02/2023 08:05

ItWillWash · 21/02/2023 05:45

Is it my area or a widespread thing?

I'm trying to order a small same-day delivery so I have lunches and breakfasts for today and tomorrow until I can do a big shop.

Morrisons have suspended deliveries on Uber due to low stock. Tesco is sold out of all varieties of tomatoes, pineapples and grapes and also don't have the yogurts I like. Asda has sold out of lettuce, cucumber, and grapes. Iceland have sold out of lettuce and cucumbers.

It was the same last time I tried to order food online. What's going on?

We've found that shops aren't updating their websites with stock availability for fresh fruit & veg. Many times different websites have shown pretty basic foods being out of stock, even milk, but plenty on the shelves when you go in.

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/02/2023 08:25

Sarahcoggles · Today 00:38
Brexit was years ago. Why would that explain what's happening now“

You really don’t understand, do you? The negative impacts of Brexit (which was not “years ago”, it’s still being renegotiated) will affect the UK for decades to come.

lifeturnsonadime · 22/02/2023 08:34

To all those Brexit deniers, even John Redwood acknowledges the problem

twitter.com/johnredwood/status/1628272679298953217

Sadlifter · 22/02/2023 08:35

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/02/2023 08:25

Sarahcoggles · Today 00:38
Brexit was years ago. Why would that explain what's happening now“

You really don’t understand, do you? The negative impacts of Brexit (which was not “years ago”, it’s still being renegotiated) will affect the UK for decades to come.

Presumably she means why didn't shortages happen immediately after Brexit.

Witchofthedales · 22/02/2023 08:55

It's Brexit. The gift that keeps on giving.

Buttalapasta · 22/02/2023 09:09

What you people don't seem to understand is that when there is supply issues, the SM prioritises the SM and we ain't in it.
This. We've made it much harder for ourselves when there are other problems.

CharmedUndead · 22/02/2023 09:27

It's Brexit.

But it's also unreasonable to expect aisles full off affordable tomatoes in February. UK supermarkets were masters at sourcing and selling cheap, out-of-season fruit and veg. That probably wasn't a good thing, climate-wise.

Shortages are a very bad sign for the British economy, though, and a bad omen of other, future shortages that we will not be able to adjust to without real pain. We can all survive a salad shortage, even if we love salad and it's healthy. When it's essential industrial components or medicines...

halfsiesonapotnoodle · 22/02/2023 09:29

CharmedUndead · 22/02/2023 09:27

It's Brexit.

But it's also unreasonable to expect aisles full off affordable tomatoes in February. UK supermarkets were masters at sourcing and selling cheap, out-of-season fruit and veg. That probably wasn't a good thing, climate-wise.

Shortages are a very bad sign for the British economy, though, and a bad omen of other, future shortages that we will not be able to adjust to without real pain. We can all survive a salad shortage, even if we love salad and it's healthy. When it's essential industrial components or medicines...

It's not Brexit. It's poor weather in Spain and Europe. I work in a supermarket and word came through a couple of weeks ago.

CharmedUndead · 22/02/2023 09:38

Sadlifter · 22/02/2023 08:35

Presumably she means why didn't shortages happen immediately after Brexit.

Show quote history

They did happen immediately after Brexit. Those empty shelves in winter 2020 - that were blamed on Covid -weren't happening in the EU.

I believe a poster upthread used the term 'gaslighting'.

There have been labour shortages, shortages of construction materials, certain medications, etc. It's not always the same thing all the time.

mondaytosunday · 22/02/2023 10:02

While there was no missing fruit and veg in my last delivery I did see a couple supermarkets are restricting amounts due to supply problems from Spain and another country. Not sure if it's logistics or crops.

Minfilia · 22/02/2023 10:04

As I said on another thread, it’s purely a UK issue.

Spanish supermarkets are fully stocked (I have a house in Spain and got back to the UK on Sunday).

My friend in France has no problem either.

this is our local supermarket here.

Why is it so hard to get fruit and salad?
Why is it so hard to get fruit and salad?
newstart1234 · 22/02/2023 10:07

There is no suggestion that poor weather in spain and europe hasn't effected supply generally, but supply to the uk is clearly not as robust as to say, france or denmark which have full supply. There are no shortages in france or Denmark. Lots of factors effect supply chains, which is why supply goes up and down all the time. Economically equivalent places in the EU do not have shortages, ie. it's brexit.

audemoray · 22/02/2023 10:10

No tomatoes or peppers available here yesterday. I thought the poor weather was to blame.

cstaff · 22/02/2023 10:24

This was featured on the Irish news last night but they were talking about price increases rather than lack of stock. Bad weather in Spain was mentioned as one of the main reasons for this.

If the problem in the UK is actually empty shelves then that might be more to do with Brexit because EU countries are going to prioritise other EU countries before supplying places like the UK etc. That is how a union works.

Gwen82 · 22/02/2023 10:24

Overflowing with fruit and veg in my local Aldi and marks this morning!!

Clavinova · 22/02/2023 11:05

What you people don't seem to understand is that when there is supply issues, the SM prioritises the SM and we ain't in it.

This article from 2017 suggests they prioritise the highest bidder;

3 Feb 2017
VEGETABLES are being rationed in supermarkets across the UK after storms and snow in Spain decimated crops, causing a supply shortage.

And there are fears the severe shortage could lead to a European trade war - with industry experts warning the UK could end up with nothing if France and Germany are prepared to pay more for their veg.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/2773682/vegetable-rationing-lettuce-broccoli-courgettes-supermarkets-uk/

Clavinova · 22/02/2023 11:12

This was featured on the Irish news last night but they were talking about price increases rather than lack of stock.

Shortages in Ireland reported here:

www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41076908.html

www.dublinlive.ie/whats-on/food-drink-news/supervalu-tesco-lidl-among-irish-26296459

Clavinova · 22/02/2023 11:23

As I said on another thread, it’s purely a UK issue

Supply issues in the Netherlands here - 15 Feb 2023;

www.freshplaza.com/europe/article/9503487/no-end-to-cauliflower-shortage-in-sight-yet/

Plitvice · 22/02/2023 11:25

Riverford still have it all in stock but it will cost you 😀

Sarahcoggles · 22/02/2023 11:27

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/02/2023 08:25

Sarahcoggles · Today 00:38
Brexit was years ago. Why would that explain what's happening now“

You really don’t understand, do you? The negative impacts of Brexit (which was not “years ago”, it’s still being renegotiated) will affect the UK for decades to come.

Not fussed to be honest. I buy local produce as everyone should. Then we wouldn't have these problems, and we wouldn't see all our arable land being sold to amazon to build more bloody warehouses.

Sadlifter · 22/02/2023 11:30

Sarahcoggles · 22/02/2023 11:27

Not fussed to be honest. I buy local produce as everyone should. Then we wouldn't have these problems, and we wouldn't see all our arable land being sold to amazon to build more bloody warehouses.

Show quote history

Quite. I agree.

QuentininQuarantino · 22/02/2023 11:36

@Sarahcoggles what do you have as your winter fruit and veg that is local? I can think of sprouts, squash, swede/turnips... carrots maybe? What about fruit, is it not still a bit too early for apples too?

Gwen82 · 22/02/2023 11:47

Sarahcoggles · 22/02/2023 11:27

Not fussed to be honest. I buy local produce as everyone should. Then we wouldn't have these problems, and we wouldn't see all our arable land being sold to amazon to build more bloody warehouses.

Show quote history

i buy local
I buy from supermarkets
wherever convenient at the time and best produce

what I do find interesting though is that it would seem that anyone who does buy exclusively local, can’t just…. Say they do without an injection of judgement / lecturing how others should do the same

As an aside, my nephew works to travel and has worked for dozens of minimum/low wage/ unskilled jobs over the years and he said hands down…. The best job and best employer has been Amazon warehouses.

Roussette · 22/02/2023 11:51

Sparklingbrook · 21/02/2023 07:31

You're all being gaslit,

So the weather in Spain has been glorious?

Yes.

I got back yesterday afternoon. Monday and Tuesday I was sat outside sunbathing!

Evenings chilly, temperatures were good for February. Obviously they get snow in places but nothing different to any other year.

Roussette · 22/02/2023 11:52

Sorry... that should say Sunday and Monday I was sunbathing