Strawberry sabotage: PM Scott Morrison visits Sunshine Coast farm

QUEENSLAND strawberry growers have given Scott Morrison a powerful briefing on their plight, showing him a field where “it all got killed because we couldn’t market the fruit”. Now, the Prime Minister has promised financial support.

STRAWBERRY farmers have given the Prime Minister a powerful briefing on their plight, showing him a field where “it all got killed because we couldn’t market the fruit”.

PM Scott Morrison made a flying visit to Queensland today to help secure a sweeter future for farmers hit hard by the pins-in-punnets crisis.

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He travelled to Ashbern Farms at Glass House Mountains in the Sunshine Coast hinterland where he announced a funding boost for the ailing industry.

This followed the crisis triggered by reports of pins and needles being found in fruit across the nation and in New Zealand.

Farmers Jon Carmichael and Brendan Hoyle gave the PM a tour of their fields and packing sheds, explaining the impact of the recent scare.

He asked about a barren field and was told “it all got killed because we couldn’t market the fruit”.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Liberal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace, sampling a strawberry during a visit to the Ashbern strawberry farm on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

The value of the lost stock in this one location was estimated at $60,000-$70,000.

Next to it, by stark contrast, was one flourishing with juicy strawberries that were given a taste test by the PM and Fisher MP Andrew Wallace.

“This is looking better,” he said. After munching on some berries, he said: “It’s all good ... excellent.”

Mr Morrison pledged $350,000 for Strawberries Australia to regain and retain market share.

The funding is expected to be used to explore new packaging options such as tamper-proof containers, marketing and training for growers.

He said the industry was on the comeback trail thanks to “the overwhelming support and good nature of the Australian people who have stood with our strawberry farmers”.

“The best thing that can happen here is that Australians keep buying strawberries.”

It was the PM’s second trip to a Queensland farm In a month, following his mercy dash to drought-stricken areas late last month.