Fruit and vegetable prices rise after extreme heat and floods hit Australia
Fruit and vegetable prices have soared as much as 50 per cent in Australia as extreme weather hits family budgets. SEE WHAT’S GONE UP AND WHAT’S STILL GOOD VALUE
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Exclusive: Fruit and vegetable prices have soared as much as 50 per cent as extreme weather hits family budgets.
Parents face a budgeting battle to put just about anything green on the dinner plate at the moment, with regions that grow baby spinach, snow peas, broccolini, beans, herbs, celery and lettuce hit by bad weather.
But shoppers are being implored to ride out the increases to help struggling growers.
Hot conditions in Victoria and Queensland’s floods are among causes of the price spike.
A News Corp Australia analysis shows broccoli prices have soared from about $5/kg to as much as $10/kg at some supermarkets.
High temperatures in Victoria have led Woolworths to raise its price on broccoli to $8.90/kg while Coles is seeking $7.90 online. Aldi is at $7.69.
Crazy food kids want in school lunches
Calls for Coles, Aldi boycott over milk
Woolies lands punch in supermarket wars
Shopper shock as Coles raises price of hot chooks
Supermarkets are charging as much as $25/kg for green beans and $18/kg for snow peas.
An AUSVEG spokesman implored shoppers to back farmers even if retail prices increase.
“We would urge local consumers to buy local fresh product when it is available, as it not only supports local farmers but is the best way to ensure that consumers are supporting their health,” he said.
Many other vegetables are still good value, including pumpkin, carrots and zucchini.
Banana supplies have been crimped by flooding in Queensland.
This has pushed prices at some retailers to $6/kg. Woolies and Coles are charging $4.90/kg on their websites.
Australian Banana Growers’ Council Chair Stephen Lowe told News Corp flooding in North Queensland and wet weather may also mean fruit might have minor superficial external damage.
“The bananas might have some marks on the skin,” he said.
“They may not be as bright yellow as normal. But, ultimately the product still should taste the same inside.”
Woolworths and Coles said they were working with North Queensland growers to resume normal supply and meet customer demand.
Better-priced breakfast and lunch box alternatives include oranges, pears and apples.
The price of red meat could spike due to flooding and drought.
A Meat and Livestock Australia spokesman told News Corp: “This is an extremely tough time for many Queensland cattle producers, especially on the back of the drought conditions many have been experiencing.
“As the situation is still unfolding, the full scale of the floods is unknown, and therefore impossible to ascertain the extent of the impact to cattle numbers and hence price,” he said.
“Large stock losses can have an impact on cattle market prices, however it is difficult to anticipate the full impact at this stage. The floods may lead to tighter supply in the affected areas and may subsequently impact cattle prices in the short-term, however there are numerous factors that also influence prices, including seasonal conditions across other key cattle production regions, domestic and global demand, production from overseas competitors, currency movements and feed costs.”
Mum Renata Brak from Alexandria in Sydney loves feeding greens to her boys Leo, 4, and Nicholas, 2 but has noticed her options have been in short supply.
Mrs Brak, 34, uses baby spinach in her omelettes, frittatas, salads and dinners.
“My two boys and husband are all big eaters and will pretty much eat anything, but I did notice the signs in the supermarket saying there was a shortage of spinach,” she said.
“We usually eat broccoli and green beans at dinner and bananas are a staple for us — they stop tantrums between the boys.
“But they haven’t had as much of that in the last week as there isn’t as much in the shops.”
She also said she is more than happy to keep supporting local farmers, but high prices will deter her.
“We support Australian farmers as much as we can and buy imperfect produce and don’t like to waste food, but if something costs too much then there’s no way I’m buying it,” she said.
“My challenge is not going over the budget.”
Mrs Brak is buying alternatives including carrots, pumpkin, capsicum, corn on the cob and cucumbers.
“Cucumbers are a must for us, everyone loves them and I can put them in salads and lunch boxes,” she said.
“Stone fruit has been popular with us too, and apples have been a staple.”
WHAT’S GONE UP IN PRICE:
Bananas — were $2.50-$4, now up to $6 a kilo
Cause: floods in North Queensland affected supplies and ability to get fruit out of region
Broccoli — was $3-$5, now $7-$10 per kilo
Cause: extended heat in Victoria affects growth, volume of quality
Broccolini — was $3-$4, now $4-$6 a bunch
Cause: extended heat in Victoria affects growth, volume of quality
Cauliflower — was $3-$4, now $6-$7 each
Cause: extended heat in Victoria affects growth, volume of quality
Herbs — were $2-$3 now $3-$4 each
Cause: a combination of heat, rain and humidity impacting crops
Baby spinach — was $17 a kilo, now up to $20 a kilo
Cause: extended heat in Victoria affects growth, volume of quality
Iceberg lettuce — was $2-$3 now $3.50-$4 each
Cause: extended heat in Victoria makes it grow too quickly and reduces volume of quality
Green beans (hand-picked) — were $6-$10 now up to $25 a kilo
Cause: extended heat in Victoria impacts flowering
Snow peas — were $7-$10 a kilo, now up to $18 a kilo
Cause: high heat, rain then more high heat affects volume of quality in Queensland and Victoria
WHAT’S STILL GOOD VALUE TO BUY:
Snake beans $2-$3 a bunch
Pumpkin (whole) $1-$2 a kilo
Carrots $1.50-$3 a kilo
Sweet potato $2-$4 a kilo
Corn on the cob 50 cents — $1 each
Lebanese cucumbers $3-$4 a kilo
Zucchini $3-$5 a kilo
Field grown capsicum $2-$4 a kilo
Onions $1.50-$2 a kilo
Button mushrooms $8-$12 a kilo
Valencia oranges $3-$4 a kilo
Apples $3-$8 a kilo (depends on variety and size)
Figs 50 cents to $3 each
Peaches, nectarines $3-$8 a kilo (depends on variety and size)
Green seedless grapes $4-$10 a kilo
Pears $2-$4 a kilo
Rockmelons $3-$5 each
Watermelon (whole) $1.50-$2.50 a kilo
NOTE: All prices are similar across Australia but they may vary per state and in store.
Originally published as Fruit and vegetable prices rise after extreme heat and floods hit Australia
Join the conversation
How Little Aths, Steve Hooker’s coach launched Nina Kennedy
The Olympic gold medallist reveals how she was discovered, what was going through her head during the pole vault final, and why the future is bright for Aussie track and field.
Read more
AFL star’s wife reveals true extent of cancer battle
Kellie Finlayson, who has aggressive bowel cancer, has opened up about the immense toll of her treatment - and the symptoms no one warned her she would face.
Read more