The UK is facing a courgette crisis! Bad weather in Spain and Italy has left many supermarkets struggling to stock their shelves with certain products including courgettes and spinach – and shoppers aren’t happy. Although suppliers have said that the shortage is short-term, many consumers have taken to social media to jokingly share their concerns, with the hashtag #courgettecrisis quickly starting to trend on Twitter.
From mock-panicking to quirky ways of protecting remaining stock, we take a look at some of our favourite reactions so far…
1. Extreme security measures
With courgettes in short supply, sellers have been having to take unusual precautions to protect their stock! Shoppers at Bristol Fruit Market were left giggling when one seller decided to show off their sense of humour and enlisted the help of two security guards to stand watch over the boxes on the shop floor.
2. The rise of courgette-related crime
Users have reported that their vegetables have been stolen from their shopping bags, while some pranksters have been filling the empty shelves and boxes with cucumbers, because of their similar shape and colour. "Warning. Counterfeit courgettes may be in your area #courgettecrisis," Tefal UK quipped on Twitter, urging their followers to stay vigilant.
3. The beginning of the end of the spiralised courgetti trend
Spiralisers and courgetti have been a huge foodie trend in recent months, with many ditching pasta in favour of spiralised vegetables for a healthy eating kick. However, concerns have been raised as to what foodie trend to follow if there are no more courgettes to cook with…
4. A growing black market
Those lucky enough to get their hands on some of the last available stock have begun quipping that they are willing to sell the courgettes for extortionate prices!