Monday Macro: What's Happening With Fresh Produce Around The World?

In the last few weeks, stores across nations have lacked fresh produce supply leaving empty shelves with fear that the situation may last until the summer.

Photo by Rithika Gopalakrishnan on Unsplash

Good morning readers! The image above depicts stores brimming with fresh produce, reminiscent of when grocery stores always had abundant fresh fruits and vegetables. Sadly, today's reality is far from ideal, with many stores worldwide facing unprecedented fresh produce supply chain disruptions. These disruptions have been brought about by a combination of factors, including extreme weather conditions, labor shortages, and transportation issues, among other points, we will cover today.

These disruptions are felt across different nations and continents, with many store shelves remaining empty for extended periods. In addition to the supply chain disruptions, the grocery industry is grappling with soaring inflation rates, further compounding the problem. As a result, customers find it increasingly challenging to access fresh produce, leading to a situation that is edging closer to a national crisis.

We have a lettuce shortage hitting grocery stores after a massive cyberattack hit Dole, we have the United Kingdom facing a supply crisis of fresh produce, and we have France, where growers and supermarkets are in the midst of a tug-of-war regarding prices among other countries facing similar or worse situations.