Christmas dinner bargains: Why ham, wine, lobster, cherries are affordable this year
Still planning your festive feast menu? These iconic lunch items will be in cheap, bountiful supply this summer.
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Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the traditional spread of delicious, iconic Australian-grown food on the dinner table.
We’re talking sumptuous hams, heaving bowls of fresh cherries, delicious seafood and crisp salads.
But the events of 2021 continue to affect Australia’s agricultural supply chain, from harvesting of fruit and vegetables to ongoing trade issues.
With less than a week until the big day, some commodities are severely affected by Covid-19, freight, weather and labour issues, while others are in strong supply. Here’s what to expect when shopping for Christmas dinner ingredients.
LOBSTER
Many Australians favour a heaving pile of fresh prawns, delicious lobster and cold salads on Christmas days when the mercury soars.
Last Christmas, the Australian lobster industry was hit hard after ongoing political tensions between Australia and China resulted in a trading halt on some agricultural commodities, including rock lobster.
While those trade tensions remain in place, Seafood Industry Victoria independent chair Joanne Butterworth-Gray said this year local fishers were struggling to keep up with the demand for local seafood.
“We’ve got fisherman who in 2020 were desperate to make a living, and now they can’t keep up with the demand,” Ms Butterworth-Gray said.
“Consumers have become aware that you can buy Victorian rock lobster, and support their local fishers, and that’s a good news story.”
Ms Butterworth-Gray said customers could snap up Victorian rock lobster for $70 to $90 a kilogram.
To compare, those same lobsters would fetch about $160 when sold into the Chinese market.
“It’s very affordable in the scheme of things, and very good quality,” Ms Butterworth-Gray said.
CHERRIES
This sweet summer staple will be an affordable addition to celebrations after a big harvest in 2021.
Despite heavy rain and issues with the cherry-picking workforce, growers have seen a fruitful harvest this year, with prices of $10 to $15 a kilogram in most cases.
Cherrybrook owner Tony Rak said buyers could expect a quality product at an affordable price for their Christmas table.
“Everything we have picked we have been able to sell, which shows there is great demand for cherries this year,” Mr Rak said.
“Prices have been relatively good for us.
“We have been selling our product at local farmers’ markets and we have managed to sell all our fruit on the day, with a price slightly lower than what you might see in the supermarket.”
Consumer prices should be $10 to $20 a kilogram, but recent weather could see more lower grade fruit on the shelves, pushing prices for the better quality fruit above the $20 a kilogram mark.
WINE
This summer is the perfect opportunity to support Australian wine producers, who have produced one of the best vintages in recent memory.
Add to the mix the ongoing China trade crisis and a choked global shipping freight system, and there will be plenty of premium quality Australian wine available for consumers at affordable prices.
Australian Grape and Wine chief executive Battaglene said the wine industry was still in the thick of both the China trade crisis and ongoing shipping issues, both of which would affect the industry for years to come.
But Australian shoppers have been given the opportunity to snap up one of the best vintages of wine produced in this country in recent memory.
“The quality of this vintage is exceptional,” Mr Battaglene said.
“The other thing is, with the closure of the Chinese market, which was a premium red wine market, is all that red wine is looking for a home. There’s more access to quality wine this year. It’s an affordable, quality vintage, and we’re hoping people try it and stick with it.”
International freight issues has affected the supply of spirits and beer into Australia, Mr Battaglene said.
French champagne is also in short supply this season, due to poor supply in Europe.
“But we’re encouraging people to buy a better product that is Australian, and more affordable,” Mr Battaglene said.
“Go buy a good Tasmanian sparkling, or an Adelaide product … any Australian sparkling wine, because there’s great quality wine at a good price.”
PORK
The jewel in the crown of any Christmas lunch is a leg of ham.
Whether it’s served cold, or glazed and baked, most Australians tuck into a sumptuous serving of ham each Christmas.
And in good news for customers shopping this season, Andrew’s Choice butcher founder Andrew Vourvahakis said the events of 2021 failed to affect Australia’s pork supply in the lead up to Christmas.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have hams available for our customers, and working towards having secure supply,” Mr Vourvahakis said.
“I don’t think there have been any issues with supply, we’ve had strong, consistent supply. We use local Victorian pork, and have had no issues sourcing and fulfilling customer demands, which has been really good. We use local pigs, that’s a key factor.”
Prices for bone-in hams this year at Andrew’s Choice are $24-$25 a kilogram.
“There’s a lot incorporated into that price,” Mr Vourvahakis said.
“It’s all local. And at the end of the day, people don’t realise that without our farmers, we don’t have anything. We would be slaves to the wharves. We are so fortunate to be blessed with some of the world’s best produce at our fingertips, and that for me is important.
“We’re putting money back into the land, and onto the farm.”
A good tip for ensuring ham is Australian-produced is to remember this mantra: if it’s on the bone, it’s one of our own.
Originally published as Christmas dinner bargains: Why ham, wine, lobster, cherries are affordable this year
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