Scots food producers blame Brexit for shortages as experts warn shelves could be empty for weeks

dailyrecord.co.uk:

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