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.
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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.”
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