Victoria, Australia's primary stone-fruit producing region, has been severely affected by weeks of violent weather, leading to a potential shortage in supermarket supplies. This region is responsible for approximately 75% of Australia's stone-fruit yield, including nectarines, peaches, plums, and apricots.
Intense storms since Christmas have battered Swan Hill and the Goulburn Valley, causing significant damage to hundreds of tonnes of fruit. This has resulted in losses amounting to tens of millions of dollars for fruit and vegetable growers. The damaged fruit is likely to be wasted or used as animal feed.
Dean Morpeth, Chairman of Summerfruit Australia and a Swan Hill grower, estimates that between 20-40% of the region's unharvested fruit could be affected, leading to substantial financial losses. Hail damage and heavy rain have caused physical damage to the fruit, making it unfit for sale and prone to rot.
Despite the damage, supermarkets are still assessing the impact. A spokesperson for Woolworths stated that it was too early to predict the effect on store prices, while a Coles representative expressed optimism about the availability and quality of stone fruit.
Source: abc.net.au