CARROT-crunching cartoon character Bugs Bunny would not survive long in Bermuda.

The island appears to have been hit by a carrot crisis as the humble vegetable has been all but impossible to find on supermarket shelves in recent days.

Imports of uncut, mature, fresh carrots are banned by the island to protect against the accidental introduction of the potentially devastating carrot weevil.

Local farmers do their best to maintain a year-round supply. But that can prove difficult when nature doesn't co-operate.

A spokesman for the produce department at the MarketPlace said: "We have received a couple of dozen bunches of carrots this entire week.

"We can't bring carrots from overseas to the island ? unless they are shredded or very small ? so our hands are tied.

"We are totally dependent on the local supply. Last year, after Fabian's visit, we had no carrots from September to Christmas. It can be very frustrating."

Dale Lovell, produce merchandiser for White's Supermarkets, said: "We do get complaints from time to time, but there aren't a lot of carrots around at the moment and there's not a whole lot I can do about it.

"We do work with growers to meet demand for as much of the year as possible and they are making efforts to do that.

"At one time you would only get them around Easter time and Christmas. There's a bit more supply than that these days."

Farmer Tom Wadson, of Lukes Farm in Southampton, who grows a wide range of crops including carrots, said the public should be better informed on why carrot imports were banned before they ? and the supermarkets ? complained about shortages.

"Carrots are always on a quarantine embargo and with good reason ? the carrot weevil," Mr. Wadson said.

"Some growers would argue that they are in carrot weevil-free areas, but we simply cannot afford to take that risk. Corn and sweet potatoes are also banned because of pests. There is certainly no effort to inconvenience people here.

"This year, the drought affected us badly, otherwise we would have produced another 500 to 600 bushels of carrots. The dried up ground just caked up like concrete and it was difficult to get them out of the ground without damaging them."

The carrot weevil larva or grub is white with a brown head. It tunnels through carrots and infested roots have soft tissue in their upper sections.

But for those worried they will not have all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, there is good news.

"We'll be picking carrots soon and I know of some others who'll be picking this week," Mr. Wadson said.

The MarketPlace spokesman added: "Within two or two-and-a-half weeks, we'll have more carrots than people will be able to eat."

A variable carrot supply against the risk of introducing a damaging pest. One might say Bermuda has chosen the lesser of two weevils.