Norfolk farm shops respond to supermarket shortages

Retailers including Tesco, Aldi, Asda and Morrisons have started rationing products such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

They blame bad weather in Spain and Morocco, from where much of the UK's out-of-season produce is imported in winter, while growers point to soaring production costs and heating bills which have reduced and delayed the homegrown harvest in British greenhouses.

But Norfolk farm shops said local supply lines of tomatoes and cucumbers have appeared much more resilient - and there is also a bounty of seasonal Norfolk-grown produce on their shelves.

Rob Hirst said his family's farm shop at Ormesby, near Great Yarmouth, is "fully stocked" - including tomatoes from Norwich-based wholesaler McCarthy's.

And after Sainsbury's drew criticism this week by importing eggs from Italy, Mr Hirst praised his suppliers at The Cluckery in nearby Repps with Bastwick, who delivered extra eggs on an "extremely successful" pancake day event.

"We've got all the things the supermarkets are short of," he said. "We can still source eggs from three miles up the road - that is the strength of the relationships in our supply chain.

"Most of our fresh fruit and veg comes from McCarthy's, and they are still plentiful. The prices have gone up, but there are no problems with supply. Obviously it does not all come from the UK, but the local supply chain works."

Charlie Tacon with seasonal produce grown at Rollesby, near Great Yarmouth - Picture: Charlie Tacon (Image: Charlie Tacon)

Charlie Tacon, whose family runs The Tacons farm shop at Rollesby, near Great Yarmouth, is currently picking cauliflower, cale, broccoli, leeks and cabbages, both for his own farm shop and others.

"People are so used to having everything all year round, but these products are all in season for the UK, you can make some nice dishes with them - and they're not just in farm shops," he said.