While supermarkets across the country have been rationing some fruit and vegetables, Herefordshire's independent traders haven't had many problems.

Mark Jenkins of MA and TA Jenkins in the Homend, in Ledbury, is wondering what's going on.

MA and TA Jenkins was founded by Mark's father, Reg "the veg" Jenkins in 1966, and is one of the oldest small businesses in Ledbury.

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"We've not been affected in the slightest," Mr Jenkins said, with weather in Europe blamed for shortages in supermarkets.

"Except that prices have gone up by at least 50 per cent. Maybe there's a problem with the weather in Spain, but we have got plenty of stuff.

"I've had no trouble getting tomatoes, and I've not been told I can only have so many either."

Hereford Times: Ledbury greengrocer Mark Jenkins has a good stock of peppers and tomatoes. Picture: Rob Davies Ledbury greengrocer Mark Jenkins has a good stock of peppers and tomatoes. Picture: Rob Davies

Nationally, Iceland executive chairman Richard Walker said he expects the current fruit and vegetable shortage to be “back to normal in a couple of weeks” and asked customers to “bear with us, we’re trying our best”.

Mr Walker told Kay Burley on Sky News: “If customers could bear with us, we’re trying our best but you can’t obviously stockpile fresh fruit and veg. Ultimately this is about the weather in Morocco and Spain, which are the areas where a lot of these tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces, peppers come from."

But in Ledbury, Mr Jenkins said there has been an unexpected benefit to his shop.

"We had a very busy Saturday because customers couldn't get stuff in the supermarket," he said.

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"I don't know why they (the supermarkets) haven't got it when we have.

"We also have plenty of seasonal stuff, swedes, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and, yes, turnips."

In Hereford, Paul Totney, owner of Cherries and Berries in High Town, has a similar experience.

Hereford Times: Manager Jason Totney fills shelves with tomatoes at Cherries and Berries Ltd in Hereford. Picture: Rob Davies Manager Jason Totney fills shelves with tomatoes at Cherries and Berries Ltd in Hereford. Picture: Rob Davies

He said: "Prices have shot up but our shop is jam packed."

He said he believes there is an element of scaremongering in reports of supermarket shortages.

"We're prepared to pay the prices (producers) want – peppers are really expensive, but we have got everything," he said.

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Mr Totney also said that he is now paying £9,000 for stock that would formerly have cost £6,000 – "but that's how it is".

He added: "I wish someone had taken a picture of my shop and put it beside one of a supermarket shelf with a question mark, asking why?

"Last week was crazy, like a cross between Christmas and a good summer week rolled into one. People were asking if they could buy whatever they wanted. I thought it was a one-off but this week has been absolutely the same again."

Hereford Times: 'Look no further' Cherries and Berries Ltd in Hereford are well-stocked with peppers and tomatoes. Picture: Rob Davies 'Look no further' Cherries and Berries Ltd in Hereford are well-stocked with peppers and tomatoes. Picture: Rob Davies

He adds that he's telling customers he'll sell them everything they want, while pointing out that, "It will still be here tomorrow".

Cherries and Berries also has turnips, but, says Paul, "only on weekends. They're an acquired taste."

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