Heatwave hits wallets

CAPSICUM and cauliflower supplies have wilted in the aftermath of extreme heat, pushing up prices at the checkout.

Shoppers are being charged as much as $10 a kilo for red capsicum and $6 per cauliflower.

Avocado lovers are also getting smashed with prices as high as $6 each at some greengrocers as the Hass variety season winds down. Costs should soon ease as more “greenskin” Shepard avocados hit shelves.

Woolworths head of produce Paul Turner said that due to recent poor weather conditions in Queensland and extreme heat in South Australia, “we are currently seeing an impact on supply of capsicums which has caused a cost increase in the market”.

“Similarly, cauliflowers and iceberg lettuce are in limited supply due to the after-effects of the extreme heat recently experienced in our growing regions.”

The situation was expected to improve in coming weeks.

On the flip side, in-season stone fruit including peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries were bountiful.

Woolworths’ website this week advertised red capsicum at $8.90-$9.90kg and cauli- flowers at $5.90 each. Coles online had red capsicum at $8.90-$9.50kg, and cauliflowers for $6. Iceberg lettuce prices appeared stable. They ranged from $1.80 on special, to $2.90.

Luke Bartlett, store manager at Toscano’s in Richmond, said cauliflowers were “very hard to come by”.

While winter was the peak season and therefore cheapest, at $6 the current cost was above average.

“Last weekend was the first time in recent memory that we completely ran out,” Mr Bartlett said.

Red capsicum, at $6.99$7.99kg, was also “on the higher side”.

Coles said extremely hot weather in growing areas had affected availability of some fresh produce including capsicum and cauliflower.

However conditions had been ideal for stone fruit and melons, and onions and potatoes were cheaper than at the same time last year.

Tony Mecca, from Mecca Brothers in North Fitzroy, said hot weather stalled cauliflower growth, so consumers may notice that they are smaller.

Avocados were selling for up to $6 each as prices traditionally jumped during the crossover between variety seasons, he said.