What's with the lack of vegetables in shops?

[user1481838270]

I know it's January but what is with the lack of vegetables in shops?

I've been in a few supermarkers in different areas in the last few weeks and none of these shops seem to have courgettes or spinich. Other vegetables such as broccoli and carrots are also in short supply.

I don't ever remember supplies being this bad in January before.

Is there a war on that I don't know about?

supermarkets, spinach.

There are no courgettes because the crop in Spain and other places failed I think. I didn't catch why.

I just did an online shop this evening. The vegetables were really expensive.

The guardian says

"Snow across Spanish farming areas means tomato, lettuce, pepper and celery shortage - and higher prices - may last into spring"

link

I expect this kind of thing may become the new normal when climate change really kicks in.

Thanks.

I don't think I've ever come across anything on a par with these shortages before.

I knew about the courgette shortage due to snow. Not helped by the current trend for spiralising veg as a replacement for pasta.

But, a sign in my supermarket said they had no spinach because of heavy rain in Spain.

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the Spinach?

I noticed there was no lettuce in Sainsbury's yesterday.

Lettuce and courgettes are summer veg. Try sticking to seasonal UK grown veg instead of imported stuff.
Carrots, cabbages, leeks, kale etc.

There was a sign up in the shop I was in today explaining there were certain vegetables in short supply due to adverse whether constitutions (I paraphrase - I had thought of taking a picture if the sign to help me remember - for unrelated MN reasons - wish I had now).

I was in Morrison's earlier today and not a shred of lettuce or tomatoes of any variety in sight - no explanation why. Thought it was odd.

I do know that they are "seasonal" and this is not their traditional "season" but I have NEVER been in a supermarket at any time of year and not been able to get lettuce or tomatoes....

Spinach locally has gone IP 300% prob to do with brexit. .(joke)

Came back from Paris a couple of days ago. No shortage of anything in shops or markets over there?
In Tesco, Iceberg lettuce is now imported from California so will be more expensive.
Sprouts and parsnips are in season so best to get those.

Can I ask a genuine question?

Just wondering: fresh produce from Europe.

Comes in lorries.

people smuggling themselves on lorries.

those that get caught...isn't the food classed as contaminated? and if it is, is it all thrown away, as the buyers lose money from it? or do they still send it to supermarkets?

and the people that successfully get into the UK and are NOT found on lorries, its unknown if food has been contaminated (If that's the right word).

I don't think anyones fallen sick or anything from produce from Europe, just genuinely wondering.

and cant most of the veg and fruit be grown in the UK? I though most things were.

and btw not migrant bashing by any means in case anyone gets the wrong idea.

Contaminated by what?

People aren't coming in sleeping on the lettuces.

And we produce less than 60% of the food we eat, partly at least because we demand things be available all year round when it's impossible to meet that demand given our climate.

It doesn't help that British farms are closing because they can't get farmworkers: app.ft.com/content/e22c9d5c-e95c-11e6-893c-082c54a7f539

We are in France and there are no obvious shortages here, although prices have gone up a bit. But shops here sell more seasonal local produce. Plenty of lettuces, had no idea there was a UK shortage until I read the news!

Think much of the problem is over-reliance on Spanish mass production, because UK supermarkets will only buy from the cheapest producers. Here in France we can never get a lettuce for 45p even in season; I typically pay between €0.9 and €1.30 (roughly £0.85-£1.20) depending on season and variety of lettuce.

No shortage of courgettes either, although they are more expensive than usual.

The story here is that UK supermarkets don't pay enough for their vegetables and that as a result their supply chains are too narrow and therefore vulnerable to disruption.

There's a shortage up here too, in Scandinavia. First there was some salad etc. at about £10/kg and now there was barely none at all. No courgettes. I bought an ecological white cabbage head instead. The salads is now flown in from the States, I read.

DalekBred - what?!!

Do you really think there are so many immigrants in veg trucks that their presence would effect the national supply of courgettes and salad? And why not tomatoes or carrots?!

Your logic is screwy! If you read the Express or the Mail I suggest you give them a rest, they are distorting your perception of reality!

No tomatoes and only a few packs of peppers in Tescos this morning. Quite a lot of vegetable crates are turned over I guess due to no supply. I've been trying to buy Brussels sproats over the last few days from there, but they haven't got any - do they buy their sproats from Spain?!

Perhaps a wake up call not to expect summer veg in winter? Tomatoes and lettuce are tasteless at this time of year.

We can only hope that the UK law that we get veg for appearance, not flavour will be repealed at some time.

those that get caught...isn't the food classed as contaminated? and if it is, is it all thrown away, as the buyers lose money from it? or do they still send it to supermarkets?

I actually wonder this too. Not to suggest that it's causing the current shortage, just in general.

And no, there was no lettuce of any variety in Sainsbury's a little while ago today.