Topics: Social Media, TikTok, Viral, Iceland, Food and Drink
TikTok trends come and go, though those supplying one food item in Iceland are certainly not pleased with the longevity of the latest one.
The viral trend began thanks to the Canada-based TikToker Logan Moffitt, who has since become known as the 'cucumber guy' online.
Logan began by sharing his cucumber salad recipes, stating at the beginning of videos: "Sometimes, you just need to eat a whole cucumber."
The content creator has since taken to Instagram to thank the 'cucumber community.
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He penned: "Cucumber community!!! Thank you for the crazy amount of love and support on the cucumber series. It’s been so exciting to see you all sharing your recipes and loving cucumber as much as I do🙂🫶🥒 More cucumber (and non cucumber) recipes coming very soon😙💚🥒."
In a follow-post, Logan added: "CUCUMBER COMMUNITY!!!! This month has been crazy, thank you guys so so much for all the cucumber support. I’m so glad to see my fav vegetable getting the recognition it deserves💪🥒 keep the recipes coming and love you guys so much💚🥒."
The trend has since made its way to Iceland, with social media influencers in the Nordic country sharing a unique salad recipe of grated cucumbers, sesame oil, garlic, rice vinegar and chilli oil.
And while the TikTok trend may seem like innocent fun, the recipe has saw an unprecedented surge in demand for cucumbers.
This has left suppliers scrambling to keep up with demand, with the Horticulturists’ Sales Company (SFG), Iceland's farmers association telling BBC News that suppliers are struggling big time.
Hagkaup, one supermarket chain in Iceland, has blamed the popular TikTok trend for the supply issues.
They say the purchases of cucumbers in the country has more than doubled.
However, Ms Sveinsdóttir from the SFG told BBC News other things may be in play to cause the supply problems.
She stated a lot of cucumber farmers replace their cucumber plants at this time of year, which may not be producing large amounts of stock as of yet.
Children are also returning to school from the summer holidays, which can also have an impact on supply.
"Everything is happening at the same time," she told BBC News.
"This is the first time we have experienced something like this."
Sveinsdóttir went on to say farmers in Iceland produce about six million cucumbers every year.
