Australian consumers are experiencing the downstream effects of major flooding in some of Queensland’s key growing areas in the form of inflated prices for fresh fruit and vegetables.
Heavy rains associated with tropical cyclone Tasha, which made landfall on the Australian mainland on Christmas day, have caused flooding across a large part of the state, and in some areas swollen rivers are still yet to peak.
National Farmers' Federation president Jock Laurie told the Australian it was not yet possible to ascertain the extent of damage to crops in the area, but stressed the challenge was now to source produce that had not been damaged and transport it to markets. This is being made difficult, however, as floodwaters continue to block roads and railway lines, he added.
National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia chairman John Cummings warned the price of a raft of different fresh produce could spike by as much as 50 per cent, with prices likely to trend upwards for weeks to come, as retailers struggled to meet consumer demand.
“If you want to be buying your favourite (fruit), expect to be paying through the roof for it,” he told the newspaper. Melons, tropical fruit and tomatoes were among the worst affected.
Bananas, however, remained unaffected, according to a media release from the Australian Banana Growers’ Council.
The organisation’s CEO Johnathan Eccles said there was a continued supply of the fruit and no reason for prices to increase.
The media release stated growers in the north of Queensland continued to send more than 450,000 cartons of bananas to markets, despite the inclement weather.
A report in the Chronicle stated the melon industry centred round the township of Chinchilla had been devastated by the floodwaters, with some growers losing their entire crops, in what had been forecast to be a bumper season.
Retailer Steve Borsellino, who owns Borsellino Brothers' fruit market, told the Australian the increased prices, due to the flooding, were squeezing profit margins.
“A few weeks ago rockmelons were A$0.90 each. Now we’re buying only six rockmelons for A$36,” he said.
“We’re losing 20 to 30 per cent in profits as the quality is just not there. All the fruit is full of water and we can’t do anything about it,”
