AU: Queensland strawberry growers suffer heavy losses
Queensland Strawberry Association president Bill Sharpe said there were 35 million plants in the state and 70 per cent of those were abandoned or wasted this season.
“One grower had to spray his whole crop of 2 million plants and abandon it,” he said.
Queensland Strawberry Industry development officer Jennifer Rowling said, due to ideal weather conditions, strawberry growers produced a huge supply of strawberries, which had caused losses to growers.
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“The way they plant affects supply and they all came in at once which created the glut," she said.
“It's been a long time since this sheer volume has been seen in Queensland."
Mrs Rowling said prices have started to rise as growers begin to pull out of the market.
One Queensland grower has managed to push through the glut without experiencing a considerable loss in profits.
Elinbah's Rolin Farms owner Linda Trost said they have avoided becoming reliant on the market by operating a pick-your-own business for strawberry lovers.
“We have heard some growers were being offered 40¢ to 50¢ a punnet … which doesn't make it viable," she said.
“We have pushed through the glut and prices are now getting better."
Mrs Trost said if growers had staggered planting it may have reduced the sudden glut of all strawberry growers putting fruit on the market at the same time.
In previous weeks prices have been as low as $1 a punnet, but prices are increasing with supermarket chains Woolworths and Coles now selling strawberries for about $1.98 a punnet.
Source: www.brisbanetimes.com.au