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…

A rare sight #courgettecrisis pic.twitter.com/L4gKCJ9Ucf

— Marina Clement (@minaclement03) January 20, 2017

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.

 

#courgette #courgettecrisis #security #ifyournamesnotonthelistyournotcomingin

A photo posted by nick matthews (@totalbristol) on Jan 19, 2017 at 2:23pm PST

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.

Warning. Counterfeit courgettes may be in your area #courgettecrisis pic.twitter.com/ta5jD1i6nO

— Tefal UK (@TefalUK) January 19, 2017

This is getting real now, I had two courgettes taken out of my handbag on the tube last night #courgettecrisis

— Jess Sherville (@JessSherville) January 20, 2017

#CourgetteCrisis Under new powers, a man has been arrested in Oxford Street for selling toy Zeppelins painted green.

— Graham Buxton (@BungleFinchley) January 19, 2017

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…

Due to Italian cold weather UK middle-classes are in sheer panic at being forced to eat actual spaghetti and not courghetti #courgettecrisis

— Kieran Seymour (@kpseymour) January 19, 2017

So thing is, i'm a little bit gutted about the courgette crisis - it's my replacement pasta #MiddleClassProblems

— Freya Ariel Knuds (@FreyaAriel) January 20, 2017

#courgettecrisis what am I going to spiralize?

— Rose Sherlock (@RoseLock) January 20, 2017

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!

Me, planning to pay my bills, books and band merch by selling zucchini in the UK. #courgettecrisis pic.twitter.com/lxIEKIOOQt

— Celeste⚽9 (@RealCeleste9) January 20, 2017