Authorities warn of impending increase in the price of fruits and veggies across Australia
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Sad news, members. We’re afraid the price of fruit and vegetables is about to go up significantly – and it’s all thanks to the floods that have wreaked havoc in Australia over the past few weeks.
On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Forbes in central western NSW with Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to assess the damage caused by recent floods.
The two states have been left reeling, following weeks of consistent rain that has caused widespread devastation.
The recent downpours, in particular, have caused huge swathes of farmland to be submerged, leading to farmers struggling from the impact and suffering from huge losses.
Mr Watt has warned that prices of fresh produce are going to increase significantly in the coming months, as key agricultural areas have been 'very badly impacted by the repeated floods'.
'It’s likely that these floods are going to have a cost of living impact on people because of the impact of prices of fruit and vegetables,' he remarked.
The Department of Agriculture is still trying to determine the full financial impact of the floods on agricultural production, but Watt says it's likely to be 'very large'. Additional support for impacted farmers is also being discussed by the federal and state governments.
Farmers in Victoria's north are calculating the expenses as floodwaters rise.
According to Emma Germano, President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, it is still too early to predict the entire effect on food availability and costs.
She said: 'Floodwaters have significantly impacted many parts of the agriculture industry.'
'There will be significant impact and disruption coming through our supply chain in the coming months.'
Analysts believe farmers in Victoria now risk volume and quality downgrades as a result of the severe rains, despite farmers' expectations for a bountiful winter crop.
In the Monday release of its Australian winter crop projection, RaboBank observed that there had been a considerable impact on low-lying crop yields, with many of them flooded in central and northern Victoria.
While Victoria was supposed to shatter production records up until last week, Dennis Voznesenski of RaboBank stated that 'we still have to wait for all the forecasted rainfall to come through and for waters to recede to see the full impact.'
He also added that the harvest is expected to go into January because of the unfavourable weather.
Fields have been wiped out and crops rendered unharvestable as a result of flooding in some areas of NSW, Tasmania, and Victoria.
'The biggest impacts in Victoria, are expected in the low-line country ... there are literally crops fully underwater,' Voznesenski said.
The researcher also claimed that earlier in the year, NSW had already seen the worst of the flooding caused by severe rain.
He added: 'Winter crops like wheat, barley and canola were already downgraded in NSW and we could see even more cropping land impacted now.'
With the price of fresh produce already on the rise even before the recent floods hit critical farmland areas, consumers can expect an even higher cost of living, especially for those who are already struggling to make ends meet.
But there is no need to worry! Here are some tips on how you can manage your grocery expenses in the meantime:
1. Plan your weekly meals and stick to them.
The easiest way to control your grocery bill is to plan what you're making for the whole week. This can save you from making unnecessary purchases from your local supermarket.
You can just keep a list at home of what you need to buy for your meals for the upcoming days and take them to the store with you. Having a meal plan will also help you save more money as you won’t end up buying expensive ready-to-eat dishes.
2. Purchase grocery items in bulk.
You might end up spending more initially buying grocery items in bulk, but if you can store them correctly, they can help you save more in the long run.
You won't need to make another purchase again within a given period, as everything you need will already be at home and readily available for use.
3. Stick to store brands instead of familiar names.
Many Aussies are opting to buy generic brands in supermarkets as they are known for being fairly cheap and still similar to popular brands.
Store brands often come in smaller packages, but this is a good thing if you're trying to cut back. Fill your pantry and fridge with these brands, and you'll see your grocery bill decrease.
4. Eat frozen vegetables and fruits.
Fruits and vegetables are always freshest and most economical when purchased locally and in season. However, once they are out of season, buying frozen produce is one way to combat higher prices.
Frozen food items are also prepared to preserve their peak freshness, helping consumers prolong the shelf life of their food. Just read the label on the packaging for their proper storage and use-by dates.
5. Plan your meals around leftovers
If you are cooking for one in the week, mix and match leftovers to make a new dish. It's a lot of work, but if you repeat this day after day, you'll have a stockpile of lunches.
So, there you have it, folks. Be sure to check out the Money Saving Hacks section of the SDC website to learn more tips on how to cut down your grocery bills as the looming (further) price hikes might take a toll on our budgets.
Also, we want to hear your thoughts on this: do you think the government is doing enough to address climate change and its subsequent effects on our agriculture industry?
On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Forbes in central western NSW with Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to assess the damage caused by recent floods.
The two states have been left reeling, following weeks of consistent rain that has caused widespread devastation.
The recent downpours, in particular, have caused huge swathes of farmland to be submerged, leading to farmers struggling from the impact and suffering from huge losses.
Mr Watt has warned that prices of fresh produce are going to increase significantly in the coming months, as key agricultural areas have been 'very badly impacted by the repeated floods'.
Floods have repeatedly wreaked havoc in Victoria and NSW's agricultural regions. Credit: Joel Carret/AAP Image.
'It’s likely that these floods are going to have a cost of living impact on people because of the impact of prices of fruit and vegetables,' he remarked.
The Department of Agriculture is still trying to determine the full financial impact of the floods on agricultural production, but Watt says it's likely to be 'very large'. Additional support for impacted farmers is also being discussed by the federal and state governments.
Farmers in Victoria's north are calculating the expenses as floodwaters rise.
According to Emma Germano, President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, it is still too early to predict the entire effect on food availability and costs.
She said: 'Floodwaters have significantly impacted many parts of the agriculture industry.'
'There will be significant impact and disruption coming through our supply chain in the coming months.'
Analysts believe farmers in Victoria now risk volume and quality downgrades as a result of the severe rains, despite farmers' expectations for a bountiful winter crop.
In the Monday release of its Australian winter crop projection, RaboBank observed that there had been a considerable impact on low-lying crop yields, with many of them flooded in central and northern Victoria.
While Victoria was supposed to shatter production records up until last week, Dennis Voznesenski of RaboBank stated that 'we still have to wait for all the forecasted rainfall to come through and for waters to recede to see the full impact.'
He also added that the harvest is expected to go into January because of the unfavourable weather.
Fields have been wiped out and crops rendered unharvestable as a result of flooding in some areas of NSW, Tasmania, and Victoria.
'The biggest impacts in Victoria, are expected in the low-line country ... there are literally crops fully underwater,' Voznesenski said.
The researcher also claimed that earlier in the year, NSW had already seen the worst of the flooding caused by severe rain.
He added: 'Winter crops like wheat, barley and canola were already downgraded in NSW and we could see even more cropping land impacted now.'
But there is no need to worry! Here are some tips on how you can manage your grocery expenses in the meantime:
1. Plan your weekly meals and stick to them.
The easiest way to control your grocery bill is to plan what you're making for the whole week. This can save you from making unnecessary purchases from your local supermarket.
You can just keep a list at home of what you need to buy for your meals for the upcoming days and take them to the store with you. Having a meal plan will also help you save more money as you won’t end up buying expensive ready-to-eat dishes.
2. Purchase grocery items in bulk.
You might end up spending more initially buying grocery items in bulk, but if you can store them correctly, they can help you save more in the long run.
You won't need to make another purchase again within a given period, as everything you need will already be at home and readily available for use.
3. Stick to store brands instead of familiar names.
Many Aussies are opting to buy generic brands in supermarkets as they are known for being fairly cheap and still similar to popular brands.
Store brands often come in smaller packages, but this is a good thing if you're trying to cut back. Fill your pantry and fridge with these brands, and you'll see your grocery bill decrease.
4. Eat frozen vegetables and fruits.
Fruits and vegetables are always freshest and most economical when purchased locally and in season. However, once they are out of season, buying frozen produce is one way to combat higher prices.
Frozen food items are also prepared to preserve their peak freshness, helping consumers prolong the shelf life of their food. Just read the label on the packaging for their proper storage and use-by dates.
5. Plan your meals around leftovers
If you are cooking for one in the week, mix and match leftovers to make a new dish. It's a lot of work, but if you repeat this day after day, you'll have a stockpile of lunches.
So, there you have it, folks. Be sure to check out the Money Saving Hacks section of the SDC website to learn more tips on how to cut down your grocery bills as the looming (further) price hikes might take a toll on our budgets.
Also, we want to hear your thoughts on this: do you think the government is doing enough to address climate change and its subsequent effects on our agriculture industry?
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