AU consumers encouraged to buy pineapples amidst oversupply
Peter Sherriff owns a 250-hectare pineapple farm at Yeppoon in central Queensland. He said the summer heatwave earlier this year had brought forward his spring crop, which he usually picked in September.
"I can't recall it being this bad. You always have a few natural flowerings in amongst your winter stuff and you get through that, but this year we've had blocks and blocks of it have gone where they don't normally go," he said
"The quality is great, just they're a bit smaller because they're on a smaller plant from the long hot summer we had."
Mr Sherriff, who has been pineapple farming for 40 years, said his crop would have been worth twice as much if it had been picked in spring, when demand and prices were high.
"We're encouraging all our retailers to support the farmers and to get in and get a good ticket on the pineapples and get in some good offers for consumers." Tropical Pines Director Joe Craggs said.
Mr Craggs said pineapple prices were expected to be between $2 and $3 each over the next several weeks.
"That's probably up to 50 per cent off the normal price, which is tough for growers but what's important is we get consumer support," he said.
Read more at abc.net.au
