Farm shops have reported a huge sales boost over the past month amid the national supermarket fresh fruit and veg "crisis". Farm and small business owners say they hope it will now have a lasting impact in the way people choose to shop.
Shoppers have been faced with empty shelves on the fruit and veg aisles of major supermarkets in the past month amid "supply chain issues". Poor weather in north Africa and southern Europe hitting crops has been blamed, and some supermarkets took to rationing the number of items like tomoatoes, cucumber, salad and peppers customers were able to buy.
It has seen customers seek out other ways to buy their fresh veg items - and farm shops and farmers' markets have been big winners as a result. The Farm Retail association, which represents farm shops and farmers' markets across the UK, has today said there has been a big increase in demand in its sector.
