FULL LIST: The Qld veggie prices to surge due to $30m Lockyer Valley hailstorm crop damage

Prices could surge by 25 per cent before supplies completely run out after a tornado-like hailstorm smashed into Queensland’s Lockyer Valley region.

Half of Australia’s broccolini supply has been wiped out as a “tornado-like” hailstorm hit Queensland’s Lockyer Valley at the weekend, causing prices to surge 25 per cent before stocks likely run out in the lead-up to ­Christmas.

The shock weather also impacted the supply of eschalots, pumpkins, spring onions, broccoli and green beans.

Lockyer Valley Growers Association president Michael Sippel said 35 growers in the area had been affected, with an estimated $30m in crops lost, and $20m worth of damage to infrastructure.

A Lockyer Valley veggie crop decimated by the weekend’s hailstorm.

Perfection Fresh Queensland general manager Graham Rowles said about half of Australia’s broccolini supply – traditionally sourced from Queensland until mid-December – had been wiped out, causing about a 25 per cent price increase.

A Woolworths representative confirmed storm damage in the Lockyer Valley could result in customers being unable to find broccolini in stores.

“We will be short of stock and the consumers will be short of stock for the next three to four weeks,” Mr Rowles said.

“We will be trying to bring up some early stock out of Victoria, but on a national basis, these guys probably supplied about 50 per cent of our national supply for the next four to six weeks.

“There’s a little bit in the cold rooms to pack out for the next week and then after that we’ll be done and dusted.”

Local fruit shops have already begun to increase prices on pumpkin and broccolini.

Nikki and Peter Michaelides at their family store Neighbourhood Market Co at Everton Park are lucky have their hands on some broccolini after a national shortage. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Sippel said growers would be without an income for up to three months.

“Basically, growers who experienced it had never seen wind like it, it was tornado-like,” he said.

“If you saw the destruction that it left – we’ve never seen anything like it … it was just a blanket of hail”.

“(Some) have between 40 and 60 workers on their farms, but they would like to keep employing them, that’s the big problem.”

Maragi co-owner Tim Linnarn, who supplies eschalots and broccoli, said 50,000 boxes worth of produce was lost, $800,000 in turnover was gone and 80 of his staff were without jobs.

“That’s mostly finished our (broccolini) season; when you put a broccolini in the ground it’s 10 to 12 weeks,” he said.

“You need another six weeks in the nursery before you plant it.”

Giant hail smashed the Lockyer Valley region. Picture: Alida Gedri

Member for Lockyer Jim McDonald said butternut pumpkins were at record prices before the storm devastation.

“That price is now going to go up because of the unavailability of our suppliers; that’s a real loss for our community,” Mr McDonald said.

A spokeswoman for Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said producers affected by the storm could be eligible for disaster assistance loans of up to $250,000 to help with emergency repairs to equipment, fencing and machinery.

“Primary producers significantly affected during a disaster but not located in a defined disaster area may be eligible to apply for assistance as an individually disaster-stricken enterprise,” the spokesman said.

“Those producers should contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23 to request an Individual Disaster Stricken Property declaration.”

Originally published as FULL LIST: The Qld veggie prices to surge due to $30m Lockyer Valley hailstorm crop damage