UK salad shortages could last a month, warns environment secretary

Government accused of ‘abject policy failure’ as supplies of popular vegetables dwindle

Shortages of salad and other vegetables in UK supermarkets could last up to a month, the environment secretary has said, as the government was accused of bringing the problem on itself by failing to support local growers and through Brexit policies.

Thérèse Coffey, told parliament the shortages could take some time to resolve, after Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Morrisons introduced limits on purchases of salad items including tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers owing to shortages partly caused by a cold spell in southern Spain and north Africa.