As producers assess damage from Cyclone Jasper, mangoes, bananas, papaya and avocados are among the produce destroyed. This means that consumers are likely to face shortages of produce from the region.
Candy MacLaughlin from Skybury Farms, Australia’s biggest papaya producer, said at least 20 per cent of their trees at Mareeba had been ruined: “There will be supply shortages because the region is the primary papaya growing region for Australia.” Due to this, she expects consumers to experience price increases with major freight delays.
Agriculture and Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt says the clean-up is well under way: “This is going to be a long recovery effort, this has been a major national event.”
Source: brisbanetimes.com.au