Some Christmas fruit in short supply due to extreme weather, price hikes seen
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As the festive season approaches, Australians are gearing up for the time-honoured tradition of indulging in delicious Christmas feasts, complete with all the trimmings and, of course, the much-anticipated Christmas trifle.
However, this year's celebrations may hit a snag due to the impact of wild weather on fruit supplies.
During a recent appearance on Sunrise, Brisbane fruit retailers Sam and Elijah Etri shared some concerning news for fruit lovers.
They revealed that the supply of several popular fruits typically enjoyed during Christmas is dwindling.
Cherries, strawberries, and mangoes, all staples of the Christmas table, are in short supply, which could spell trouble for those looking to create their festive desserts and fruit platters.
The Etri brothers explained that the recent erratic weather patterns have affected fruit production.
'It's very scary, the weather, mangoes are extremely short this time of the year,' Sam commented.
'The trees, the flowers—so there's no fruit there like there has been in past years.'
The scarcity of these fruits is not just a local issue; it's a nationwide concern.
With the festive season being a peak time for fruit consumption, the shortage could not have come at a worse time.
The brothers noted that while some fruit is being brought in from Victoria and Tasmania, the limited availability means consumers will likely face higher prices.
It has been mentioned that the surge in cherry prices is attributed to devastating storms in New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA), which gravely affected cherry crops.
The extreme weather has dramatically reduced production, with some growers experiencing output losses of up to 80 per cent.
'Everyone loves their cherries around Christmas time, but they are a bit short,' Sam said.
'A lot of fruits are short this year, but we are still starting to see some stuff from Tasmania.’
‘But there will be a price tag attached to that, of course.'
Despite the shortage of some fruits, Elijah pointed out an abundance of stone fruits available.
'Plenty of peaches, look for a large big peach,' he said.
'Same as nectarines, apricots. There's plenty of apricots around.'
For those who can't imagine their holiday table without cherries and strawberries, be prepared to pay a premium.
‘Normally, at this time of year, you would be looking at $3 on a Kensington pride mango, you are looking at upwards of $5,’ Elijah said.
‘One kilogram of Tasmanian cherries will cost you $50 and over, where normally we are looking at gift boxes around the $20 mark.’
The impact of the fruit shortage is already being felt by retailers, with a slight dip in sales, particularly for mangoes, a Christmas favourite.
However, the Etri brothers reassured viewers that a variety of fruits is still available for other festive desserts, such as the family pavlova.
'The pavlova—plenty of blueberries, raspberries, and passionfruit to put on, so there is still plenty of good fruit to go around,' Sam concluded.
As we prepare for the holiday season, we must be aware of these supply issues and plan accordingly.
And remember, while the weather may be unpredictable, the spirit of Christmas and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones remain unchanged.
Did you find it difficult to get your favourite fruits this Christmas season? Or will you be trying different fruits to spice up your Christmas platter? Let us know in the comments below!
However, this year's celebrations may hit a snag due to the impact of wild weather on fruit supplies.
During a recent appearance on Sunrise, Brisbane fruit retailers Sam and Elijah Etri shared some concerning news for fruit lovers.
They revealed that the supply of several popular fruits typically enjoyed during Christmas is dwindling.
The Etri brothers shared the short and plentiful fruits in supply for the Christmas season. Credit: Sunrise / YouTube
Cherries, strawberries, and mangoes, all staples of the Christmas table, are in short supply, which could spell trouble for those looking to create their festive desserts and fruit platters.
The Etri brothers explained that the recent erratic weather patterns have affected fruit production.
'It's very scary, the weather, mangoes are extremely short this time of the year,' Sam commented.
'The trees, the flowers—so there's no fruit there like there has been in past years.'
The scarcity of these fruits is not just a local issue; it's a nationwide concern.
With the festive season being a peak time for fruit consumption, the shortage could not have come at a worse time.
The brothers noted that while some fruit is being brought in from Victoria and Tasmania, the limited availability means consumers will likely face higher prices.
It has been mentioned that the surge in cherry prices is attributed to devastating storms in New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA), which gravely affected cherry crops.
The extreme weather has dramatically reduced production, with some growers experiencing output losses of up to 80 per cent.
'Everyone loves their cherries around Christmas time, but they are a bit short,' Sam said.
'A lot of fruits are short this year, but we are still starting to see some stuff from Tasmania.’
‘But there will be a price tag attached to that, of course.'
Despite the shortage of some fruits, Elijah pointed out an abundance of stone fruits available.
'Plenty of peaches, look for a large big peach,' he said.
'Same as nectarines, apricots. There's plenty of apricots around.'
For those who can't imagine their holiday table without cherries and strawberries, be prepared to pay a premium.
‘Normally, at this time of year, you would be looking at $3 on a Kensington pride mango, you are looking at upwards of $5,’ Elijah said.
‘One kilogram of Tasmanian cherries will cost you $50 and over, where normally we are looking at gift boxes around the $20 mark.’
The impact of the fruit shortage is already being felt by retailers, with a slight dip in sales, particularly for mangoes, a Christmas favourite.
However, the Etri brothers reassured viewers that a variety of fruits is still available for other festive desserts, such as the family pavlova.
'The pavlova—plenty of blueberries, raspberries, and passionfruit to put on, so there is still plenty of good fruit to go around,' Sam concluded.
As we prepare for the holiday season, we must be aware of these supply issues and plan accordingly.
And remember, while the weather may be unpredictable, the spirit of Christmas and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones remain unchanged.
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the other day on ABC a grower from NT said they were having a bumper crop, do we not source from this area.
