Qld weather: FNQ floods propel mango prices past $8 each

Prices of Queensland-grown Kensington Pride mangoes could soar as farmers count the cost of crops damaged by floodwaters.

Prices of Queensland-grown Kensington Pride mangoes could soar to more than $8 each as farmers count the cost of damaged crops from the flood disaster.

It comes as major supermarkets and grocers raced to fill empty shelves ahead of Christmas across the Far North now major roads have reopened.

The much-loved Kensington Pride mangoes were expected to be scarce on shelves, with supplies already low after crops were affected by the state’s pre-cyclone heatwave.

Fruit shops across South East Queensland are already selling the fruit for $8 each, with distributors forecasting prices could increase in coming days. Fruit distributor Romeos Marketing Queensland director John Trimboli said in the 17 years he had been in the industry, it would be the lowest Christmas stock available he had seen.

“You won’t be able to pick a mango for at least a week to let the trees dry out,” he said. “What will happen there will be some damage – there will be watermarks on the mangoes.

“We are sort of in unknown territory at the moment, but there will be fruit that will be picked.

“I just think that everyone’s going to have to understand that the fruit quality will probably be downgraded from appearance but the fruit will still be very edible.”

Mr Trimboli said demand at this time of year would push up prices.

FNQ Growers Association president Joe Moro said 80 per cent of his 30ha farm went underwater, wiping out 50 per cent of his mangoes.

But there were several factors adding to the effects on supply.

“Not only is it to do with the harvest, but also the fact the Bruce Highway was cut off for a few days and the roads like the Kuranda Range was closed until now,” he said.

Jacob Matysek unloads supplies from a truck to be loaded onto a Daintree Air Services light plane flying essential items to flood victims in Cooktown. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The Palmerston is going to be out for a number of days.

“So from a logistical transport point of view, there are going to be ups and downs of supply into the marketplace.”

Mr Moro said limes, grapefruit, mandarins, papaya and bananas would also be affected.

“There’s going to be shortages of fruit; whether or not it amounts to shelves being empty I don’t know, but there will be shortages,” he said.

“There’s going to be reductions in the amount of availability on a day-by-day basis.”

Coles regional manager, Jodie Palmer said extra supplies of essential goods had been stocked ahead of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper’s arrival last week.

“(We) are working hard to restock our stores with products for the community ahead of Christmas,” she said.

“We appreciate the community’s patience at this time, and we have extra deliveries on their way into FNQ over the next couple of days to make sure we have what our customers need for Christmas.”

Woolworths staff have returned to open stores, with a spokesperson confirming stock had begun moving into most stores.

“Due to a smaller than expected harvest and the weather conditions affecting mango crops in some parts of the country, we’re currently experiencing stock challenges for Kensington Pride mangoes,” the spokesperson said.

“We expect supply to improve in January as harvest improves. In the meantime, we are offering customers a range of other mango varieties including R2E2 and Calypso.”

Originally published as Qld weather: FNQ floods propel mango prices past $8 each