By WGGB Staff

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) -- A tomato shortage resulting from poor weather in Florida has hit local stores and restaurants, and it has affected the way some people do business locally.

At Big Y World Class Markets, a local store manager said they have seen the price of tomatoes increase 40 percent because of the need to bring them in from more distant locations. However, he said they have avoided passing that cost increase on to the consumer, and have been absorbing it.

Places such as restaurants, however, have tried a different tactic. At local Wendy's fast-food restaurants, sings have gone up instructing customers to request tomatoes if they expect to have them with their order.

At Pazzo's Ristorante in Springfield, the chef said it can be challenging getting a quality product when it is not in season locally, and he has had to get creative. He said he is looking forward to an end to the shortage.

Florida  tomato growers are reportedly expected to have a crop of tomatoes available to consumers by April.