UK salad shortages could last a month, warns environment secretary

Therese Coffey advises consumers to opt for turnips as tomato and cucumber supplies dwindle

• Why are UK supermarkets facing fresh food shortages?
• Spanish growers blame weather, rising costs and Brexit

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.

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