Major climate challenges in Spain and Morocco lead to less access to some types of vegetables in Norwegian shops.
– Spring is characterized by lots of rain, then sandstorms and heatwaves. In addition, there is snow and freezing temperatures in January. This causes a demanding period for certain vegetables.
That’s what Pia Gulbrandsen, executive vice president for communications and public relations at Bama, says.
Two types in particular
For several weeks, vegetable producers have faced shipping challenges due to the colder climate.
– It gives us less access to tomatoes and peppers, says Gulbrandsen.
He said they had managed to meet most of the needs, but not all of them.
BAMA: Pia Gulbrandsen, director of communications and public relations for Bama Photo: Truls Aagedal / TV 2
– It may sell out in some places for a shorter time, but there’s no danger of us running out completely, or having to start rationing.
According to Gulbrandsen, supplies of broccoli, iceberg lettuce and cauliflower have also decreased by between 30 and 40 percent in Europe.
– Despite the challenges, we have managed to deliver what we had to do. We have had good relations with manufacturers for a long time, so they put us first, says Gulbrandsen.
LOW PRODUCTION: Tomatoes are very hard to come by. Photo: Frank May
He also said that in a few weeks they would start selling Norwegian cherry tomatoes.
– This will ease the delivery challenge a bit.
Must be rations
In the UK, delivery challenges have led to shops rationing.
Retail chains Asda and Morrisons have set limits on how many vegetables customers can buy, they wrote BBC.
Asda limits sales of items such as tomatoes, peppers and lettuce to three per customer, while Morrisons limits two cucumbers per customer.
EMPTY SHELVES: Some retail chains in the UK are now limiting sales of certain vegetables to avoid empty shelves. It’s from a grocery store in London. Photo: Yui Mok
Restrictions were introduced on Tuesday.
“Shortages are expected to last for several weeks, until the UK growing season starts and retailers find alternative sources of supply,” the UK Retail Consortium told the BBC.
UK supply is said to have also been affected by bad weather at home, as well as reduced production in greenhouses in the Netherlands, which is a major producer. wrote E24.
– Not valid in Norway
Communications manager at Coop, Harald Kristiansen, said rationing would not be relevant in Norway. Like Bama, he says certain vegetables can sell out in stores in less time.
– We may experience some delays in the coming weeks, but we are not in a situation where we see the need for rationing as we have seen in other countries, said Kristiansen.
STANG OUT: The communications manager at the Coop, Harald Kristiansen, says there’s been a lot of pushing for manufacturers lately. Photo: Espen Solli
The products in question include lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and pumpkins, said Kristiansen.
– We have to be able to say that the weather gods haven’t exactly teamed up with producers in recent months.
As a result of the lower than normal temperatures, there has been frost damage in a number of areas and greenhouses.
– The temperature is now rising, but strong winds from the Sahara are bringing with them sand, which gives less light than usual. The storm also caused problems at the port and delayed shipments by several days, he said.
– Here, in other words, there is a lot of out of stock, and all of this leads to gaps in the production plan which can lead to something being sold out for a shorter period.
However, he confirmed that he was still receiving shipments, so there was no need for sales restrictions.
– It’s not that bad, says Kristiansen.
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