Strawberry Supplies Squeeze UK Supermarkets

The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has raised a clear warning for the UK fresh fruit market: strawberry availability could be tighter than usual over the coming weeks, thanks to persistent wet weather in two of Britain’s main winter sourcing regions, Spain and Morocco.

Heavy rain, flooding and storms across Mediterranean growing areas — regions that normally supply a significant share of the UK’s imported soft fruit — have disrupted harvests and slowed movements to British wholesalers and retailers. That’s the picture painted by growers, logistics firms and buying groups tracking the impact of unseasonal weather.

In its latest analysis, the FPC highlighted just how reliant the UK remains on these regions for winter fresh produce. Morocco alone typically accounts for more than a third of British strawberry and raspberry imports at this time of year, while Spain dominates other soft fruit and vegetable categories.

As a result, the FPC has been urging shoppers and supply chain partners not to panic buy, but to be prepared for reduced volumes and the possibility of patchy availability in supermarkets — particularly for strawberries, raspberries and similar winter soft fruits.

Industry commentators outside the FPC have now likened the situation to broader Mediterranean supply challenges currently impacting tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers too, as wet weather continues to unsettle harvesting and logistics in key exporting countries.

While there have been social media warnings circulating about strawberries in UK supermarkets — including reports of some stock being temporarily pulled from shelves in certain stores — industry bodies stress this is a supply issue rather than a food safety concern.

For now, the message from the Fresh Produce Consortium is clear: keep calm in the strawberry aisle, expect some fluctuation in availability and pricing, and remember that growers and retailers are actively working to manage the situation as weather patterns continue to play out.

We’ll keep you updated with the latest on soft fruit supplies and what this could mean for buyers and retailers right across the fresh chain.