Tesco is temporarily selling smaller vegetables to help farmers who were hit by recent storms and flooding.
The supermarket giant is buying slightly smaller sprouts, cauliflowers, cabbages and leeks in a bid to support growers across the UK.
The business added that the move also aims to keep British produce on the shelves as well as reducing the risk of food shortages.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
Growers in some parts of the UK, including Lincolnshire, East Anglia, Cornwall, and Scotland, have experienced heavy rainfall and flooding since October.
Under the terms of the arrangement, farmers will supply Tesco with more of their crop and avoid having at lower prices on the open market.
Tesco Fresh Produce & Horticulture Director Tom Mackintosh said: “By accepting slightly smaller sprouts, cauliflower, cabbages and leeks, we can support the fresh produce industry while ensuring that customers are able to continue to buy British winter vegetables.”
The National Farmers Union added that January’s poor weather had disrupted the growth of many harvests.
Martin Emmett, from the NFU said: “We have no expectations of shortages currently, but it remains important that we make the best of what’s available with supermarkets offering flexibility to growers when it comes to crop specification.
“In doing so the food chain from farm to plate will avoid unnecessary food waste.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
3 Comments. Leave new
Does Martin Emmett actually talk to any farmers? Many have massive concerns. Those who have planted are concerned the excessive rain and flooding will rot their crop, others cannot plant due to saturated ground! Martin needs to get closer to reality!
Nothing wrong with smaller vegetables, the customer might use it all instead of buying bigger veg and throwing half of it away. Tesco should sell the wonky veg and fruit as well all year round, if you grow your own you will know it cannot be a specific size all the time that is just how they grow. Customers are too fussy about having it all a certain size taste is know different.
Great idea needs extending into other parts of country. I shop at Aldi i love their wonky veg and fruit. Well done Tesco supporting growers