Far North Queenslanders have been hunkering down as Tropical Cyclone Jasper, the first cyclone of the season to hit Australia, crossed the coast yesterday afternoon. Jasper formed early in the cyclone season, despite the El Niño pattern that triggered drier conditions. Queensland’s Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association said there would be a huge impact on “more than 1000” backpackers working in hospitality and horticulture jobs in the region.
“Our horticultural growers have a lot of French backpackers and from other places in Europe, and they just want to make sure they are safe,” said Growcom spokeswoman Angela Williams, who returned from Cairns on Monday.
Many farmers have been worried about losing all of their crops. Also, mangoes might become more expensive for Christmas, as the region was in the middle of the avocado, mango and lychee harvest.
Mangoes and pawpaws are being cropped near Mareeba, near the Atherton Tableland, but she said the biggest concern was further north in the Lakeland District, to the north-west of Cairns.
Source: brisbanetimes.com.au