Unexpected grocery shortage hits supermarket shelves
A shortage of cucumbers is impacting Aussie shoppers this week, which could make it harder to whip up go-to meals right now.
Coles customers have been met with a Customer Notice explaining that continental cucumber shortage. It reads: “Due to extreme weather in growing regions, there may be limited availability of continental cucumbers.
Coles customers have been met with a notice explaining the cucumber shortage. Jo Abi
“We are working closely with our growers to improve supply as quickly as possible.”
This is despite bumper cucumber crops in April thanks to excellent crop conditions in multiple growing regions across the country, Anton van den Berg, co-founder of community-based food co-op Box Divvy told nine.com.au.
Autumn saw continental cucumber prices fall to $1.50 each at some retailers, and Lebanese cucumbers selling for around $4 per kilo.
Come winter, and Coles is currently selling continental cucumbers for $3.50 each and despite the customer notice warning of “limited availability” we did find some in stock at Coles in Kellyville in Sydney on Sunday.
Cucumber prices have soared since April. Jo Abi
Coles is selling Lebanese cucumbers for $8.90 per kilo. And green cucumbers are being sold for $2.70 each.
Over to Woolworths were continental cucumbers currently cost $3.50 each or if you choose them from the supermarket’s The Odd Bunch range, they are $2.80, and Lebanese cucumbers are $1.42 each.
Aldi is selling continental cucumbers for $2.99 each, and Lebanese cucumbers for $8.49 per kilo.
Aussie shoppers have also expressed concerns for lettuce supplies, with lettuce stock fluctuating over the past few months due to adverse weather conditions in growing regions.
Despite these concerns there seems to be adequate supplies of lettuce in Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi.
Coles is currently selling iceberg lettuce for $3.30 each, down from $3.50 earlier this year, and cos lettuce is on special at $2 each.
Iceberg lettuce prices have fallen in the past two months. Nine
Woolworths has iceberg lettuce priced at $3.50 each, and cos lettuce hearts are $3 for a two-pack.
And Aldi has iceberg lettuce for $2.79 each, and cos lettuce for $2.99 for a pack of two.
van den Berg confirmed “continental cucumbers have been scarce for a few weeks, but it looks like prices are easing”.
Box Divvy is currently only selling Lebanese cucumbers because they are more affordable.
“We’re not seeing any lettuce shortages even though iceberg isn’t as cheap as it was a few weeks ago,” he added.
“Ours is local from Manuel Xerri in Agnes Banks and sells for $2.88 a head. I think supermarkets are in the $3.30-$3.50 range.
“Supply of all other lettuce varieties is sufficient to meet demand, so we’re not seeing any price pressure.”
Coles has told nine.com.au they expect the customer notice warning of a continental cucumber shortage to be removed early next week.
