Why is there a tomato shortage as supermarket shelves in Aldi and Morrisons left bare

If you've been into a supermarket recently, you will have no doubt noticed the empty shelves in the fruit and veg section. It's well known the UK is in the midst of an egg shortage, but now it appears tomatoes have been added to that list.

Shoppers across the country have been sharing their frustration on social media after being unable find tomatoes at their local stores.

Photos and videos have been posted online showing the bare aisles, with some people saying they visited multiple supermarkets with no luck.

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But what is the reason for the lack of tomatoes and how long is the shortage expected to last?

Supermarket giant Morrisons recently explained to their customers that bad weather in Spain and Morocco - where the majority of our tomatoes come from - is "significantly" impacting their availability in stores. Morrisons say that the the current shortage is "likely to improve in the coming weeks".

Rising energy costs have also been earmarked as the reason for the shortage. According to reports, tomato growers in the UK are struggling to heat their greenhouses due to lack of funds.

Tomato production in the UK requires greenhouses to be heated to 20C. However, soaring energy prices has meant farmers have had to be a little more conservative when spending on energy, transport, fuel and equipment.

Last year, British Tomato Growers Association (BGTA) spokeswoman Julie Woolley told British retail magazine The Grocer: "Wholesale gas prices impact all growers and tomato availability is a global issue."

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