Scottish food producers have blamed Brexit for supermarket shortages as experts warned of price hikes and rationing "for weeks".
Save British Farming, which represents farmers and other producers, said the UK's withdrawal from the EU had shattered food security and predicted more shortages in the future.
Liz Webster, the group's chair, said: "The reason that we have food shortages in Britain… is because of Brexit".
Justin King, former CEO of Sainsbury’s, said that UK farmers which used to grow fresh vegetables all year round have "suffered" because of Brexit so have been unable to continue the practice.
He added that the farming sector "has been hurt horribly by Brexit".
The SNP said that "Brexit is at the root" of the shortage problems and that the only way to fix it was to rejoin the European Union.
The National Farmers Union of Scotland said that Brexit "should be opening the government's eyes" about how important food producers are to the country.
This comes as experts have warned that price rises and shortages could last for weeks.
Clive Black, a top analyst at broker Shore Capital, said bad weather in Spain, where a lot of our produce comes from at this time of year, had come at a low point in the UK’s growing season. It has resulted in a “perfect storm leading to sky high prices for tomatoes and cucumbers.”
He said that "supply shortages will lead to higher prices unless new sources are found," and warned that restrictions to supplies could drag on for "weeks."
It came as discount supermarkets Tesco and Aldi joined rivals Asda and Morrisons in rationing certain produce.
An Aldi spokesperson said: “We are limiting purchases of peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes to three units per person to ensure that as many customers as possible can buy what they need.”
Tesco has put a limit of three portions of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers per customer.
Morrisons introduced limits of two items per customer across tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers yesterday.
Asda had already introduced a customer limit of three on tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries.
A spokesman for The Co-Op said that it has "no plans" to introduce buying limits of fruit and vegetables at this time.
Sainsbury's and Lidl also said that they currently do not have any buying limits on products.
The Scottish Retail Consortium said that the problems were caused by poor weather in south Spain and north Africa.
Deputy Head of the Scottish Retail Consortium Ewan MacDonald-Russell said: “Difficult weather conditions in the South of Europe and Northern Africa have disrupted harvest for some fruit and vegetables including tomatoes and peppers.
“While disruption is expected to last a few weeks, supermarkets are adept at managing supply chain issues and are working with farmers to ensure that customers are able to access a wide range of fresh produce.”
But reports have suggested that there is an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables in European countries.
Speaking at the National Farmers’ Union conference on Wednesday, Tory Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said that “we can’t control the weather in Spain” in response to the shortage.
In a video shared on Wednesday morning morning, Save British Farming chair Liz Webster said: “The reason that we have food shortages in Britain, and that we don’t have food shortages in Spain – or anywhere else in the European Union – is because of Brexit, and also because of this disastrous Conservative government that has no interest in food production, farming or even food supply.”
National Farming Union of Scotland President Martin Kennedy said that the shortages “must put food security and fairness in supply chains at the very top of [the UK and Scottish Government’s] agendas.”
He called for both governments “to maintain long term continuity of supply by utilising a fair pricing scheme for seasonal home grown produce.”
He added: “Brexit, the Covid pandemic and the devastating war in Ukraine.. should be opening the government's eyes in terms of what is important right now and the critical role that the nation’s food producers play.”
The SNP’s Environment, Farming, Agriculture and Rural Affairs spokesperson Patricia Gibson said: “With each passing day, the damage of the Tories’ Brexit Britain obsession continues to hit.
“Currently, supermarkets across the four nations are being forced to ration fruit and vegetables – and Brexit is at the root of much of it.
"Regardless of what the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour say, there is only one way to fix this: re-joining the European Union and Single Market.
“That is why there can be no doubt the only way to protect Scotland from the long-term damage of Brexit is to become an independent country.”
Scottish Labour called on the UK and Scottish Governments to give farmers support with energy bills.
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy, Transport and Rural Affairs Colin Smyth said: “Shoppers are facing a perfect storm from the extreme weather in Spain and North Africa resulting in shortages, and sky-rocketing energy prices at home which mean it’s not possible for Scottish producers to heat tunnels and grow energy intensive produce to fill the gap.
“At a time when families are facing a cost of living crisis, it may well mean that even when there is produce on our shelves, prices will become unaffordable for many.
“Without more action from our Governments, and the big supermarkets who are too quick to chase after cheaper imports to support food production on home soil, empty shelves could well become a common sight given the impact of climate change.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting food production in Scotland – that’s why we committed to maintaining direct payments. We provided additional support to the food producing sector by ensuring payments through the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening payments were made in advance.
“Our Vision for Agriculture has food production at its heart - it makes clear our support for farmers and crofters in providing the country with healthy nutritious food, whilst also ensuring Scotland meets its world-leading climate and nature restoration outcomes.
“We have focussed on providing support where it is most needed, while also focusing on building a strong and sustainable future for agriculture in Scotland. Our Good Food Nation Act, passed last year, places a new duty on Ministers to set out a comprehensive Good Food Nation plan.”
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said:
“We understand public concerns around the supply of fresh vegetables, however the UK has a highly resilient food supply chain and is well equipped to deal with disruption.
“We remain in close contact with suppliers, who are clear that current issues relating to the availability of certain fruits and vegetables were predominately caused by poor weather in Spain and North Africa where they are produced.”
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