Asda and Morrisons begin to relax rationing on fresh fruit and salad items

Some major supermarkets have begun to scrap rationing on shoppers buying fresh fruit and vegetables.

Asda confirmed to Metro.co.uk that it removed the limits of three on cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries over the past week.

This leaves the three-item limit on tomatoes and peppers.

Asda added that availability has improved overall and aisle shelves should return to normal levels within a couple of weeks.

Morrisons said the retailer has removed the maximum cap on cucumbers.

Shoppers will now only be limited to two tomatoes, lettuce and peppers in their baskets.

Since February, leading grocery chains have limited the number of some fruit and vegetables that customers can buy amid shrinking supplies and turbulent weather.

It’s yet another worry for cash-strapped Brits during the cost-of-living crisis, with Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi all introducing limits. 

Together, the five supermarkets represent around two-thirds of the market share of grocers in the UK.

Frosty temperatures in Spain have damaged crops – a big headache for British grocers, given that the country supplies the UK with most of its veg.

Tomatoes in particular felt the frostbite. In Almería, tomato sales were down 22% in the first two weeks of February compared to last year Fepex, which represents Spanish fruits and vegetables producers, said.

Cucumber sales plunged 21% and pepper and eggplant sales fell by a quarter.

Experts previously told Metro.co.uk how it’s hard to chalk the shortages down to one or two things like cold weather.

Everything from Brexit to climate change is impacting the food system in some way, and many supermarkets rely more on cheaper imports rather than homegrown ones, unlike their European counterparts.

From the onset, the British Retail Consortium said the fresh produce rationing would only last a few weeks.

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the trade association, 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.

‘In the meantime, some stores are introducing temporary limits on the number of products customers can buy to ensure availability for everyone.’

Metro.co.uk contacted Tesco, ALDI and Lidl for comment.

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