The produce industry is facing a cucumber shortage as supermarkets report a surge in sales of the popular vegetable, possibly due to viral recipes circulating on TikTok. In Iceland, local farmers are struggling to keep up with the high demand, leading to empty shelves in grocery stores. One resident in Reykjavik was surprised to find cucumbers sold out at multiple stores as he attempted to make his own cucumber salad at home.
One of the viral recipes on TikTok that may be contributing to the high demand for cucumbers is by Logan Moffitt, also known as “the cucumber guy”. The Canadian creator gained popularity on the platform with his simple kitchen tutorials, often centered around using an entire cucumber in a recipe. His millions of followers and viewers on TikTok are believed to have played a role in the nationwide shortage of cucumbers in Iceland.
Local grocery chains in Iceland, such as Kronan and Hagkaup, have seen a significant increase in sales for ingredients commonly used in cucumber salad recipes, such as sesame oil, fish sauce, and rice vinegar. These ingredients have seen sales soar by as much as 200%, indicating a high interest in trying out the viral recipes shared by influencers like Moffitt. The demand for cucumbers has been so high that grocery stores required emergency shipments to replenish their stock.
While some experts believe that the cucumber shortage could be linked to viral influencers like Moffitt, others suggest that there are other contributing factors at play. Kristín Linda Sveinsdóttir, the marketing director for the Horticulturists’ Sales Company, mentioned that the high demand could also be influenced by other factors, such as children returning to school and farmers replacing cucumber plants at the end of the season. The convergence of multiple factors has created a unique situation where the country is facing a cucumber shortage for the first time.
Overall, the cucumber shortage in Iceland is a result of a combination of factors including viral recipes on TikTok, increased demand from consumers, and other seasonal factors. The popularity of influencers like Logan Moffitt has played a significant role in driving up sales of cucumbers and other ingredients used in cucumber salad recipes. Grocery chains have struggled to keep up with the demand, leading to empty shelves and emergency shipments to replenish stock. Despite skepticism from some experts, it is clear that viral trends on social media platforms can have a real impact on the food industry and consumer behavior.
