The crushing inflation spike is driving food prices to all-time highs, yet avocado prices remain at all-time lows due to an exceptional oversupply.

Farmers in far north Queensland have disclosed that the rising cost of labour and shipping in Australia is a threat to local farmers, with one stating that it is cheaper to trash their crops than to export them overseas.

Last Monday, Jan De Lai of Atherton, far north Queensland, observed a large heap of rotting avocados at her local dump. She uploaded the "devastating" photographs to Facebook.

"Truckloads of avocados are being dumped in Atherton! Surely they could be used for animal fodder or used to make oil?" she wrote in her post.

"Poor farmers."

A massive avocado dump in far north Queensland provoked uproar from users. Credit: Facebook.​

Many social media users blamed large stores such as Coles and Woolworths for allegedly favouring imported fruit over locally grown. Meanwhile, hundreds protested the "waste" of food and demanded more assistance for Australian farmers.

"This is what happens when farmers are forced to sign contracts with big chain supermarkets to survive and then the supermarket chain doesn’t want your produce," wrote one person in the comments section.

"Not the first time this has happened. The fruit is not worth the cost it takes to package and transport it," another agreed.

Jim Kochi, an Atherton farmer and member of the board of directors for Avocados Australia, stated that the fruits on store shelves were 100 per cent Australian at this time of year.

"There are no imports of avocados coming into Australia," he said, adding that the avocados were dumped because of an oversupply in the domestic market amid favourable growing conditions, particularly in Western Australia.

"We have a fairly high supply of premium and class one avocados, and about two weeks ago, when this happened, price returns to growers were quite low," he said.

"We were back to levels we were at 20 years ago."

Typically, avocados of inferior quality, such as those seen in the picture, would be processed into guacamole and other goods, such as face masks.

However, Kochi stated that Queensland's processing facilities were at full capacity already, so some of the material wound up in green garbage and was composted.

He stated that growers only discard fruit as a final option.

Coles and Woolworths both claim that all avocados sold are grown in Australia to support local growers. Credit: AAP.​

The supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have stated that they solely offer Australian avocados in their stores at present.

A Woolworths official told Yahoo News Australia that the company is collaborating closely with its suppliers to bring excellent local produce to its millions of weekly customers.

In addition, a representative for Coles stated that their supermarkets carry only avocados that are 100 per cent Australian.

What are your thoughts, folks? After reading about the devastating avocado crisis online, what do you think could be a potential solution to the food waste issue at hand?

Let us know in the comments!

 

[Neilo]

MASSIVE avocado dump sparks concerns about food waste, Coles and Woolworths respond ​

The crushing inflation spike is driving food prices to all-time highs, yet avocado prices remain at all-time lows due to an exceptional oversupply.

Farmers in far north Queensland have disclosed that the rising cost of labour and shipping in Australia is a threat to local farmers, with one stating that it is cheaper to trash their crops than to export them overseas.

​

Last Monday, Jan De Lai of Atherton, far north Queensland, observed a large heap of rotting avocados at her local dump. She uploaded the "devastating" photographs to Facebook.

"Truckloads of avocados are being dumped in Atherton! Surely they could be used for animal fodder or used to make oil?" she wrote in her post.

"Poor farmers."

A massive avocado dump in far north Queensland provoked uproar from users. Credit: Facebook.​

Many social media users blamed large stores such as Coles and Woolworths for allegedly favouring imported fruit over locally grown. Meanwhile, hundreds protested the "waste" of food and demanded more assistance for Australian farmers.

"This is what happens when farmers are forced to sign contracts with big chain supermarkets to survive and then the supermarket chain doesn’t want your produce," wrote one person in the comments section.

"Not the first time this has happened. The fruit is not worth the cost it takes to package and transport it," another agreed.

​

Jim Kochi, an Atherton farmer and member of the board of directors for Avocados Australia, stated that the fruits on store shelves were 100 per cent Australian at this time of year.

"There are no imports of avocados coming into Australia," he said, adding that the avocados were dumped because of an oversupply in the domestic market amid favourable growing conditions, particularly in Western Australia.

"We have a fairly high supply of premium and class one avocados, and about two weeks ago, when this happened, price returns to growers were quite low," he said.

"We were back to levels we were at 20 years ago."

​

Typically, avocados of inferior quality, such as those seen in the picture, would be processed into guacamole and other goods, such as face masks.

However, Kochi stated that Queensland's processing facilities were at full capacity already, so some of the material wound up in green garbage and was composted.

He stated that growers only discard fruit as a final option.

Coles and Woolworths both claim that all avocados sold are grown in Australia to support local growers. Credit: AAP.​

The supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have stated that they solely offer Australian avocados in their stores at present.

A Woolworths official told Yahoo News Australia that the company is collaborating closely with its suppliers to bring excellent local produce to its millions of weekly customers.

In addition, a representative for Coles stated that their supermarkets carry only avocados that are 100 per cent Australian.

What are your thoughts, folks? After reading about the devastating avocado crisis online, what do you think could be a potential solution to the food waste issue at hand?

Let us know in the comments!

Yet they are $2.98 @ Coles they could sell them for a $1 each and still make a profit and more people would buy them.

 

[riskydave]

MASSIVE avocado dump sparks concerns about food waste, Coles and Woolworths respond ​

The crushing inflation spike is driving food prices to all-time highs, yet avocado prices remain at all-time lows due to an exceptional oversupply.

Farmers in far north Queensland have disclosed that the rising cost of labour and shipping in Australia is a threat to local farmers, with one stating that it is cheaper to trash their crops than to export them overseas.

​

Last Monday, Jan De Lai of Atherton, far north Queensland, observed a large heap of rotting avocados at her local dump. She uploaded the "devastating" photographs to Facebook.

"Truckloads of avocados are being dumped in Atherton! Surely they could be used for animal fodder or used to make oil?" she wrote in her post.

"Poor farmers."

A massive avocado dump in far north Queensland provoked uproar from users. Credit: Facebook.​

Many social media users blamed large stores such as Coles and Woolworths for allegedly favouring imported fruit over locally grown. Meanwhile, hundreds protested the "waste" of food and demanded more assistance for Australian farmers.

"This is what happens when farmers are forced to sign contracts with big chain supermarkets to survive and then the supermarket chain doesn’t want your produce," wrote one person in the comments section.

"Not the first time this has happened. The fruit is not worth the cost it takes to package and transport it," another agreed.

​

Jim Kochi, an Atherton farmer and member of the board of directors for Avocados Australia, stated that the fruits on store shelves were 100 per cent Australian at this time of year.

"There are no imports of avocados coming into Australia," he said, adding that the avocados were dumped because of an oversupply in the domestic market amid favourable growing conditions, particularly in Western Australia.

"We have a fairly high supply of premium and class one avocados, and about two weeks ago, when this happened, price returns to growers were quite low," he said.

"We were back to levels we were at 20 years ago."

​

Typically, avocados of inferior quality, such as those seen in the picture, would be processed into guacamole and other goods, such as face masks.

However, Kochi stated that Queensland's processing facilities were at full capacity already, so some of the material wound up in green garbage and was composted.

He stated that growers only discard fruit as a final option.

Coles and Woolworths both claim that all avocados sold are grown in Australia to support local growers. Credit: AAP.​

The supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have stated that they solely offer Australian avocados in their stores at present.

A Woolworths official told Yahoo News Australia that the company is collaborating closely with its suppliers to bring excellent local produce to its millions of weekly customers.

In addition, a representative for Coles stated that their supermarkets carry only avocados that are 100 per cent Australian.

What are your thoughts, folks? After reading about the devastating avocado crisis online, what do you think could be a potential solution to the food waste issue at hand?

Let us know in the comments!

I notice the supermarkets where I live are still charging excessively for Avocado even though farmers are throwing them out, it's got nothing to with looking after customers with supermarkets, it's a money thing.
100k's from Atherton where these are being thrown out we a paying nearly 2 dollars an Avocado.
Not right is it Coles or Woolies.

 

[Wendyfraser]

We saw the report and were disgusted surely there is some organisations that will be happy to take the avocados to give away to anyone who wants them

 

[David1941#]

We saw the report and were disgusted surely there is some organisations that will be happy to take the avocados to give away to anyone who wants them

Oh, yes, it is so expensive here at $1.80 per each in a number of Melbourne supermarkets and I can’t afford that price.

 

[David1941#]

A pity that this oversupplied Avocados can’t be exported to our neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and HongKong.

 

[Oldbilby]

We should go out and buy and eat more goods when in season.

 

[Ricci]

I don't like or eat Avocados but I still think it's a shame to see this kind of waste. It must be soul destroying for the farmers. Surely there must be some local group that could at least use some of these.

 

[Petendee]

The problem with the article is that at no stage are figures mentioned.
I would love to know the retail margin, distribution, packing and grading costs. Then we would better understand what is available to the grower supplier.
It's too easy to say high cost and leave it at that.

 

[Senor]

When I started reading the article I got the impression that avocados sold by Coles and Woolies were imported. That annoyed me. But later the article stated that they are locally grown. Phew! I personally dislike buying overseas produce when local one is available, as much as practical. We should try and support our farmers as much as possible otherwise if they shut down we are in a bit of trouble. Then we are at the mercy of overseas suppliers which means charging us higher prices because there is no local alternatives.
I do wonder if there are any charities or local shops who can pickup these goods and sell them cheaper than woolies/coles. Maybe it is impractical.
I don't have all the facts but it seems such a waste to throw away food. I still remember my mum telling me to finish my dinner as there are lot of people around the world who don't have enough food to eat. So don't waste it. I guess that has stuck with me although I am much older now.

 

[Ronald Scott]

MASSIVE avocado dump sparks concerns about food waste, Coles and Woolworths respond ​

The crushing inflation spike is driving food prices to all-time highs, yet avocado prices remain at all-time lows due to an exceptional oversupply.

Farmers in far north Queensland have disclosed that the rising cost of labour and shipping in Australia is a threat to local farmers, with one stating that it is cheaper to trash their crops than to export them overseas.

​

Last Monday, Jan De Lai of Atherton, far north Queensland, observed a large heap of rotting avocados at her local dump. She uploaded the "devastating" photographs to Facebook.

"Truckloads of avocados are being dumped in Atherton! Surely they could be used for animal fodder or used to make oil?" she wrote in her post.

"Poor farmers."

A massive avocado dump in far north Queensland provoked uproar from users. Credit: Facebook.​

Many social media users blamed large stores such as Coles and Woolworths for allegedly favouring imported fruit over locally grown. Meanwhile, hundreds protested the "waste" of food and demanded more assistance for Australian farmers.

"This is what happens when farmers are forced to sign contracts with big chain supermarkets to survive and then the supermarket chain doesn’t want your produce," wrote one person in the comments section.

"Not the first time this has happened. The fruit is not worth the cost it takes to package and transport it," another agreed.

​

Jim Kochi, an Atherton farmer and member of the board of directors for Avocados Australia, stated that the fruits on store shelves were 100 per cent Australian at this time of year.

"There are no imports of avocados coming into Australia," he said, adding that the avocados were dumped because of an oversupply in the domestic market amid favourable growing conditions, particularly in Western Australia.

"We have a fairly high supply of premium and class one avocados, and about two weeks ago, when this happened, price returns to growers were quite low," he said.

"We were back to levels we were at 20 years ago."

​

Typically, avocados of inferior quality, such as those seen in the picture, would be processed into guacamole and other goods, such as face masks.

However, Kochi stated that Queensland's processing facilities were at full capacity already, so some of the material wound up in green garbage and was composted.

He stated that growers only discard fruit as a final option.

Coles and Woolworths both claim that all avocados sold are grown in Australia to support local growers. Credit: AAP.​

The supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have stated that they solely offer Australian avocados in their stores at present.

A Woolworths official told Yahoo News Australia that the company is collaborating closely with its suppliers to bring excellent local produce to its millions of weekly customers.

In addition, a representative for Coles stated that their supermarkets carry only avocados that are 100 per cent Australian.

What are your thoughts, folks? After reading about the devastating avocado crisis online, what do you think could be a potential solution to the food waste issue at hand?

Let us know in the comments!

This will always be an issue for farmers - supply and demand. When the product is scarce amazingly they take the excess profits. Farmers should think this through and have a policy in place on this issue of oversupply. Many can't afford Avocado's as they live in poverty circumstances. There are outlets for this surplus if those charitable organizations (which include Coles and Woolworths) swing in to address the bounty and provide for the needy. It is well known this product contains nutrition which the needy generally find unaffordable. Don't talk about it - Do something.

 

[JustPat]

With one exception (NZ kiwi fruit) I do not purchase overseas fresh produce. I first go for as local as possible (WA) or Australian.

 

[Possum Lover]

Why not have a national avo day. Shops sell the seconds at cheap prices for one week only (but still enough to make a profit for all). It is a sin to see this waste.

 

[Ronald Scott]

Why not have a national avo day. Shops sell the seconds at cheap prices for one week only (but still enough to make a profit for all). It is a sin to see this waste.

I doubt they would go down this track because there would be no profit given packaging and transport costs. Coles etc could drop off produce to nursing homes and food banks as a practical solution