AU: Things go pear shaped for fruit industry
"As for peaches, SPCA only took in 34,000 tonnes this year as compared to 54,000 tonnes four years ago," Sharman Stone said.
"Apples have had a good year but prices have dropped significantly because of the use of the supermarket’s low price policies. This time last year growers sold apples for $6 per kilo and now they are often only paid $2 per kilo.
"Plums are also being sold very cheap. Unfortunately rock bottom prices do not always generate higher sales.
"The high Australian dollar that affects exports, low fruit prices, and the supermarket’s power to drive down prices, have added to the problems of storms and floods.
"It has also been reported that Australia has a low fruit consumption rate.
"We cannot fight the weather but we can fight off the uncertainty in the marketplace. The Coalition will revise competition policies to support the suppliers instead of focusing on who gets the cheapest prices," Dr Stone said.
Source: www.farmsonline.com.au
