UK shoppers looking for salad staples like tomatoes and cucumbers have been coming up short, as supplies of these produce items are extremely low right now. According to Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, these shortages could last two to four additional weeks. Supermarkets such as Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, and Tesco have imposed limits on how many of these vegetables customers can buy at one time.

Roasted cauliflower & hazelnut salad from Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi has no peppers, tomatoes, or cucumbers!

Although blame for the shortages has been attributed to bad weather in southern Europe, it appears that Brexit and UK farming policies also play a role. Jay Rayner tweeted that back in 2017 he advised Michael Gove in a letter that the "running down of UK farming leaves us vulnerable to external shocks." In a long thread, Rayner lays out his theory, noting that the UK could get more of its produce from greenhouse growers, but that the government "chose not to help growers with their energy bills, because they have never understood food security." He also opines about how Brexit made it more difficult for the UK to compete in the global food market.

Other pundits have weighed in on the shortages, noting shoppers' expectations that every type of fruit or vegetable should be available no matter the season also pressure the food supply. As someone who is preparing to shovel a foot of fresh snow out of her driveway, I understand the desire for fresh green produce during the winter. If I had to eat only what was available seasonally in Minnesota, it would be a steady diet of potatoes, winter squash, and turnips for nearly six months. But I can't argue that eating a lot of produce out of season fundamentally shifts the way food is produced and distributed.

While I do occasionally enjoy a vibrant green salad during the winter months, I have been investigating other ways to brighten up my meals without eating completely out of season. The EYB Library is extremely helpful in that regarding, allowing me to find new ways to use produce that is readily available. It is easy to both include and exclude ingredients from your search, so you can find something delicious no matter the supermarket's limitations. My breakfast this morning, for example (Baked oatmeal (Gajjar no halvo)), came from Plant-Based India by Dr. Sheil Shukla. It contained mainly pantry ingredients save for a banana (that I plucked from my freezer) and carrots, which store well.