UK SUPERMARKETS have been facing shortages of various fruits and vegetables in recent weeks, largely due to bad weather in Europe and Africa.

Consumers continue to face, at best, buying restrictions on certain fresh produce items such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers or even bare shelves as retailers grapple with supply problems.

Last week, food minister Mark Spencer said: “The current situation – caused by recent poor weather in North Africa – shows how dependent we can be on certain trade routes for some types of food.

“I know families expect the fresh produce they need to be on the shelves when they go in for their weekly shop. That is why I am calling in supermarket chiefs to find out what they are doing to get shelves stocked again and to outline how we can avoid a repeat of this.”

This week, we visited four supermarkets in Reading's town centre – Tesco, Sainsburys, Marks and Spencer, and Aldi to see if the shortages are impacting shoppers in the town.

Reading Chronicle:

Tesco

We visited the Tesco Express on Oxford Road and were greeted with plenty of tomatoes on display as well as a small selection of cucumbers and salad bags. There were no peppers in this store, but other fruit and vegetables were well stocked, including potatoes, broccoli, oranges and apples.

Due to the nationwide supply issues, Tesco has imposed a three per person limit on certain items. Signs were also in place warning customers about the supply issues.

Aldi

Aldi appeared to be well-stocked with most of its fruit and vegetables with a good display of tomatoes, oranges and cucumbers. Peppers were in short supply, however, in the Vastern Road store.

Aldi has also imposed a three per person limit on items and has placed signs in store to warn shoppers about the low stock.

Marks and Spencer’s

Marks and Spencer’s, Broad Street, was the most well-stocked supermarket that we visited with full shelves and no limits on the number of specific items bought per person. The M&S in Reading Station was also well-stocked, despite being a smaller store.

Sainsbury’s

We found that Sainsbury’s had the most empty shelves with the Friar Street store missing trays of lettuce, plums, nectarines, tomatoes and peppers.

The Broad Street branch had empty trays or low stock of these items also. Sainsbury’s also has a three per person limit on salad items and signs are in place to warn customers about the issue.

Have you found it difficult to get any particular items as part of your food shop in recent weeks? Get in touch at news@readingchronicle.co.uk