As a result of supply shortages, Britain’s largest supermarkets are restricting purchases of certain fruits and vegetables. Tesco has set a limit of three tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers per customer. Asda has also imposed a three-item limit on lettuce, salad bags, cauliflower, and raspberries, while Morrisons has imposed a two-item limit on cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers. Aldi and Lidl, both based in Germany, have imposed restrictions as well. It said the move was necessary due to poor weather conditions overseas.

Farmers are struggling with high energy costs, which has reduced their ability to grow fruits and vegetables in heat. Weather disruptions in Southern Europe and Northern Africa have worsened the situation. Heavy rains in Morocco and a cold spell in Spain are among the adverse conditions.

The United Kingdom is heavily reliant on fresh produce imports at all times of the year. The British government has blamed the shortages on extreme weather conditions in Spain and North Africa, where the majority of the fruits and vegetables consumed in the UK at this time of year are sourced.

Heatwaves earlier this year contributed to the fourth-hottest summer on record, with temperatures exceeding 40°C. As a result, the UK is unable to rely on local producers or even those in the Netherlands, another of its major food trading partners. Farmers in both countries have been forced to use their greenhouses less and concentrate their efforts on winter crops due to rising electricity prices.

Many people in Europe made videos of supermarket shelves overflowing with vegetables to mock UK shoppers for allegedly making the wrong decision to leave the European Union, which is causing the shortages. Many believe that since the UK left the EU single market and imposed trade barriers, the supply of goods to the UK is not as smooth as it is among EU countries.