The Australian vegetable industry is still assessing the impact of the extraordinary heatwave that struck the south eastern part of the country earlier this week.
Peak vegetable industry body AUSVEG's communications manager Hugh Tobin said today that the leafy vegetable sector would be the hardest hit.
'Extreme weather in vegetable growing regions would likely affect leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage in particular,' Mr Tobin said.
'While a full assessment is still being undertaken on a farm by farm basis, it is clear that warm weather conditions are potentially hazardous for the industry right throughout the supply chain, affecting sales, consumer behaviour and production,' he said.
Mr Tobin said while vegetable growers were doing all they could to limit the impact of the heat, a continuation of high temperatures would inevitably take a toll on domestic production.
'The danger is that consecutive nights of above average temperatures may have serious impacts on particular vegetable breeds, resulting in a possible loss of production,' he said.
