The price of food hasn't been this high in Australia since the last time the nation had back-to-back La Niña weather systems. This happened a decade ago, but now there's a chance the country could be in for a rare "triple-dip" La Niña.
That would mean a continuation of the devastating weather that has lashed Australia's east coast farming regions this year, at a time when the pandemic is still sweeping the nation and there's no end in sight to the war in Ukraine. Experts say these events have created an "unprecedented" confluence of both domestic and international pressures that are impacting supply chains and driving up food prices.
The cost of fresh fruit and vegetables has already jumped as a result of widespread flooding in Queensland and New South Wales, and the prospect of a third La Niña could mean more disruption to the traditionally volatile market.
Source: abc.net.au