Australian consumers are noticing the pinch when it comes to their grocery shopping. Some major supermarkets have been charging as much as $12 for a single head of iceberg lettuce, a price hike that forced fast-food giant KFC to bulk out the lettuce on its burgers and wraps with cabbage. In general, prices of lettuce, baby spinach, wombok and cauliflower have been impacted.
Produce that's grown in regions that have been impacted by flooding and severe weather — think the Lockyer Valley in south-east Queensland — is going for much higher prices than usual. That's because some farmers lost a whole crop in the floods and are now having a hard time planting their next crop because of freezing temperatures and saturated soil.
Shop seasonally when you can
Produce is costing more, but shopping seasonally could cut down your grocery bills. Here's a general wrap of what's in season in Australia right now — but keep in mind that some fruit and veggies on the list will be impacted by the weather-affected produce shortages:
What fruits are in season?
- Bananas
- Grapes
- Kiwifruit
- Lemons
- Mandarins
- Oranges
What vegetables are in season?
- Bean sprouts
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Fennel
- Mushrooms
- Potatoes
- Spinach
Source: abc.net.au
