If you’ve visited your local grocer lately only to discover that the produce section was lacking in one specific area, here’s some berry — er, very — good news.
Supermarkets around the region that have experienced a dearth of strawberries this month because of inclement weather conditions in California say the plump red treats will be back on shelves in no time.
“There has been a nationwide shortage of strawberries,’’ Phil Tracey, a spokesman for Stop & Shop, said in an e-mail to the Globe. “Fortunately, the shortage is expected to be short-lived. Throughout the week, Stop & Shop stores will continue to see an increase in the volume of strawberries and we expect to be fully restocked by early next week.’’
Wellesley-based Roche Bros. Supermarkets also said in a statement this week that less-than-favorable weather conditions and a cold snap out West led to a shortage of strawberries on shelves. But like Stop & Shop, the company expects the problem to be rectified in the coming days.
“Like other retailers in the area, we have indeed been affected by the low availability of California strawberries this week,’’ spokeswoman Dena Kowaloff said. “Our produce team expects the situation to resolve in the next two weeks or so.’’
Kowaloff also owed the problem to a “transition in growing areas.’’
At Shaw’s and Star Market, which are owned by the same company, a spokesperson echoed the concerns of its competitors.
“Inclement weather conditions in some of the strawberry-growing regions has had an impact on supply and availability,’’ a company official said. But “we are working diligently with our suppliers to bring fresh product in as it becomes available.’’
Not every store has been affected, however.
At Trader Joe’s, which has locations all over Greater Boston, strawberries were in stock. A spokesman said in an e-mail that “Trader Joe’s [is] not currently experiencing’’ an unbalanced berry section.
On Reddit Boston, a community message board, some people said this week that strawberries were plentiful at place such as Wegmans and Whole Foods, though others said some Market Basket locations took an apparent hit.
Representatives from Market Basket did not immediately return a request for comment about the supposed strawberry insufficiency.
Last summer, strawberry season was behind schedule locally. Cloudy skies and cooler climes slowed the growth of the berries in Massachusetts, with many farmers reporting harvest delays of more than a week at the time.
Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com.