Pressure from Australian supermarkets could soon affect the cost of cucumbers, tomatoes and berries, as farmers warn that months could pass before prices return to normal.
The shortage of workers and the rising cost of production has put a handbrake on supply.
Farmers have warned that their crops run the risk of rotting in the field because they have no workers to pick them up.
AusVeg spokesman Tyson Cattle told Nine that areas affected by the floods in Queensland had also been added to the price hike.
Camera icon The cost of fruits and vegetables has skyrocketed. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz Credit: News Corp Australia
“The reality is that … it will take 12 to 16 weeks for the supply to return to normal,” he said.
“Production cost issues are important. Fertilizer costs, chemical costs, fuel costs as you see, wage costs, all these different impacts are having critical impacts on growers to be able to plant their crops.
“This will obviously have a flow effect for Australian consumers.
Mr Cattle called on the government to speed up visas for agricultural work and discard plans to reduce the Coalition’s agricultural visa, given the backpackers in Australia.
“If we have the manpower, we can suddenly have the confidence to plant more product,” he said.
Camera Icon There are concerns that crops are rotting in the field due to labor shortages. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz Credit: News Corp Australia
“As much as (the) backpacker (visa) fulfills a purpose for our industry, we don’t want to have to rely on a backpacker who is largely here to have fun and enjoy and enjoy the luxuries that Australia has to offer. .
“We do not want to have to rely on that. We are disappointed that the government has not followed up on the ag visa. “
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt met with industry stakeholders on Tuesday to discuss the challenges in the sector.
Cattle told Nine he had met with the new minister “a couple of weeks ago” and hoped she could work with him to “find a solution.”
“A critical point is being reached to find a solution,” he added.