Farming experts claim there is good news to follow once the grocery price hikes subside

Grocery price hikes are likely to remain in place for a while as farmers attempt to recover from months of extreme weather – but light is on the horizon. Here’s when prices will drop.

Price hikes of some groceries are expected to stick around for the next few weeks according to experts, as farmers attempt to recover from months of extreme weather causing supply shortages.

Grocery items that have seen significant price hikes – including a head of lettuce for $12 and $20 for 500g of green beans – were expected to begin to fall and potentially become cheaper than before, according to co-chief executive of Australian supermarket chain, Harris Farm Markets, Tristan Harris.

“It’s impossible to put an exact time limit on it but we’re only talking a number of weeks, we’re not in this for months,” he said.

Tristan Harris with expensive lettuce and eggplant, which has fallen in price. Picture: Nigel Hallet

“And because growers have been out for eight weeks, they’ll replant and it will usually overlap with someone else, so then you get oversupply. So we’re likely to see really expensive prices fall to really cheap prices.”

Mr Harris urged shoppers to be flexible with their weekly grocery list, warning that iceberg lettuce, beans, snow peas, cucumbers, zucchini and broccoli were all still at fairly high prices.

But the cost increases haven’t impacted all foods with most fruit, corn, eggplants, celery, Chinese vegetables, sweet potatoes, potatoes and carrots remaining at average prices or lower.

“In the end, fruit and veg is still by far the cheapest way to cook,” he said.

“Even if you take the most expensive things here to cook up, when you compare it to takeaway you’re still miles ahead.”

Three months of constant rain battered parts of Queensland which stopped growers from being able to access their crops in many cases, Mr Harris said.

Rachael Bradford of Wishart, a dietitian from Nutritionist Eat & Enjoy Nutrition, with an iceberg lettuce. The price of lettuces have increased. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Right now, Queensland would usually be bringing everything. All the lettuce, not just for the state but for most of the east coast of the country, would usually be coming out of the Lockyer Valley but it’s out for a while because of the rain,” he said.

“So what we’re finding is that the product is not only expensive but also not great quality because growers are just taking what they can grow to meet the basic need.”

With the rain subsiding, several farmers are preparing to plant their seeds for the third time this year.

Richard Shannon, acting chief executive of Growcom – the peak industry body for Queensland horticulture – said it could be the last attempt for some.

“There’s likely to be ongoing disruption in supply for at least a couple of months,” he said.

“It takes an enormous financial toll on growers and in some cases they won’t be able to find the funds to plant again, and will ultimately have to exit the industry.”