Back to school: Fruit sales drop as fresh fruit expelled from lunch boxes

Parents in the fruit fly quarantine areas are being ordered not to pack fresh fruit in school lunch boxes, leading to a big drop in sales this week. See what kids can take instead.

Fruit fly outbreaks across Adelaide and the Riverland have turned the traditional school lunch box on its head – and the horticulture industry says it’s already affecting sales.

As students head back to their classrooms on Wednesday, parents are urged to swap fresh fruit for other healthy snacks.

But the fruit industry says the move will impact retail sales, in particular apples and pears.

Horticulture Coalition of SA chair Angelo Demasi said the Government’s direction had already led to a 30 per cent reduction in fruit sales at the SA Produce Market this week.

“We support and commend the Government’s Commitment to zero tolerance and the ongoing efforts in eradicating Fruit fly in SA,” he said.

Ingrid Cother of Torrensville will be sending her children Sophia, 18, Hamish, 16 and Peter, 12, to school with veggies instead of fruit. Picture: Tom Huntley

“However, we call for an immediate change to the messaging and retraction of the school communication with alternate messaging that allows the continued ability to pack a healthy SA grown snack in school lunch packs.”

Mr Demasi said other areas of concern should be addressed as a priority over the school lunch box messaging, such as fruit movement through unregulated supply channels such as Facebook Market place and pop up stalls, and green waste disposal from restaurants and retail outlets.

He said other protocols could be followed at schools such as fruit and fruiting vegetables being wrapped when taken to school or kept in enclosed lunch boxes. Uneaten produce, or waste such as apple cores, should be disposed of in an enclosed green bin.

As reported in The Advertiser, the State Government has directed people within quarantine areas to not to move any fruit – whether grown in backyards or store bought – away from their homes.

Adelaide’s quarantine area covers 297 suburbs between Sturt and Eden Hills in the south, and Salisbury in the north, and from the coast to Highbury and Mount Osmond in the east.

Quarantine also applies to a large part of the Riverland following outbreaks in Monash and Renmark West.

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham called on residents to “be a fruit fly fighter and do the right thing”.

“This means if you live, work or go to school in an affected area, homegrown fruit and fruiting vegetables must not be included in lunch boxes or otherwise moved around – they must be consumed at home.

“If you live in an affected area any shop-bought fruit and fruiting vegetables must also be kept secure when taken home – this means in a sealed bag or other container – and it must then remain at home.”

Healthy lunch box alternatives include carrots, cucumber, celery, or melons and pineapple, and cooked, canned and processed fruit can also be taken to school or work.

Torrensville mum Ingrid Cother says carrot and celery sticks and dried fruits would replace the fruit in her children’s lunch boxes.

“The irony is that Peter is probably thrilled that he can’t take fruit to school because he doesn’t eat too much as it is,” she said.

She is within the quarantine area, and because she can’t give away her “plethora of lemons” this year, she’ll be busy making treats such as lemon curd, cakes and cordial.

The Education Department has passed PIRSA’s advice to schools, but says there is no plan for an inspection routine.

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