Pineapples, a staple in the Australian summer, are facing a domestic undersupply following a tumultuous period, drawing attention from international producers in India and Indonesia, who have submitted applications to export their de-crowned pineapples to Australia.
This development comes as a response to a natural mass flowering event in early 2023, leading to an overabundance of pineapples in the Australian market, with excess fruit not harvested in time. Consequently, Australian pineapple growers, such as John Cranny from central Queensland, have experienced higher prices due to the reduced supply.
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is currently assessing the biosecurity risks of importing fresh pineapples from India and Indonesia. Australian farmers, however, express concerns regarding the potential impact of these imports on the local market, citing differences in production costs and the potential for imported pineapples to be priced competitively or lower than domestic ones. The outcome of this assessment could lead to more affordable pineapples for Australian consumers, amidst ongoing discussions about the economic implications and the quality of imported versus local produce.
Source: abc.net.au