Supermarkets could face further fruit and vegetable shortages as unexpected weather in the UK and Spain has affected supply.
This comes as some parts of southern Spain have experienced unprecedented high temperatures, with a drought in Andalucía last week having affected vegetable production, The Guardian reported.
Meanwhile, the UK growing season started late as a result of cold weather and lack of sunlight.
Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning
Sainsbury’s has warned of shortages to products such as peppers and eggs, while Morrisons started to ration peppers to two per customer last week and Waitrose also run out of the vegetable in some stores.
This comes following widespread fruit and veg shortages earlier this year, which saw supermarkets across the UK rationing produce including tomatoes, onions and cucumbers.
At the time, the British Retail Consortium attributed the shortages to difficult weather conditions in the south of Europe and northern Africa.
However, this also came as less was planted by British farmers due to the rising costs of heating greenhouses and some industry experts pointed at Brexit, claiming the UK’s current position has left it vulnerable with trade links less secure than they once were.
As a result of the industry shortages, over two thirds of Brits are now looking to eat more seasonal produce according to online-only supermarket Ocado and Ginsters farmer Jeremy Oatey claimed locally grown produce has risen by 15%.