Christmas crisis: How tropical storms will hit your dining table

There’s nothing more iconic than a bowl of cherries on the Christmas table, but wild weather has caused havoc for growers this year.

Extreme weather has compounded input pressures for growers in the week leading up to Christmas, with flooding in Queensland the latest variable to affect wholesale produce prices.

Despite weather events, more than 150 tonnes of cherries, 600 tones of potatoes, and 150 tonnes of carrots are expected to pass through Melbourne’s Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market in the lead-up to Christmas.

Market City Fruits wholesaler David James said rain in cherry-growing regions had affected quality and quantity heading into Christmas, but demand was still strong. 


“A very good premium box of cherries (5kg) can be anywhere from $20 to $25 a kilo,” Mr James said. “Demand is still very high. It’s amazing. People still splurge, and one of their spending habits is on Christmas cherries.”

Melbourne Market Authority chief executive Mark Maskiell said while wet conditions across the east coast had elevated prices for some iconic items, others, such as Victorian berries, hadn’t been affected, with quality high.

While Melbourne Market Authority declined to provide specific wholesale prices, Mr Maskill said market growers and wholesalers said prices for traditional Christmas produce, such as pumpkins and potatoes were “comparable to last year”.

“Wet weather conditions in Queensland and Victoria mean wholesale prices for iconic Christmas fruit favourites such as cherries and mangoes are a bit more expensive than last year.”

Cherry growers have been hit by wild weather throughout the season, affecting quality and quantity in the lead-up to Christmas. Picture: Tara Croser

Produce of Virginia managing director Peter Tran said cost of living pressures was easing demand for tropical fruits such as mangoes.

The wholesale price of a tray of mangoes has soared from $10 a tray last year to a whopping $70 this year.

“Tropical fruit is a luxury, it’s not an apple or a banana,” Mr Tran said.

“Last year we had a bumper crop and an oversupply, a lot of growers had a good crop and a good yield and gave us really cheap prices. This year, it is the complete opposite.”

Mr Tran said in 2022 Kensington Pride mangoes were selling for $8-$10 a tray.

But since Cyclone Jasper hit Queensland this month prices have continued to rise, climbing by $10 a tray earlier this week as producers struggled to access orchards to pick fruit.