The shortage of lettuce in the UK due to poor weather in Europe has resulted in a huge surge in demand for fresh products from the Americas, IAG Cargo reports.

UK supermarkets have been suffering shortages of iceberg lettuce and other vegetables due to bad weather in Spain, pushing up prices and leading to some stores limiting the number of items shoppers can purchase.

IAG Cargo vice president North America, Joe LeBeau says volumes of iceberg lettuce and other vegetables flying from the US West Coast to the UK have doubled in the past week when compared to the same period last year.

He comments: “Typically lettuces are originating from Northern Mexico and Arizona and are travelling through Los Angeles or Seattle airports to London Heathrow. Early indications are that these higher than usual volumes will be sustained over the short term.”