Please support our farmers

THE sabotage of our strawberry and now banana and apple industries are crippling blows for producers already under extreme pressure.

Our banana industry, worth hundreds of millions of dollars and employer of many people, is already struggling with the outbreak of the Panama disease.

Placing needles in fruit can only be described as an act of terrorism and the public has a duty to provide as much information to the police and authorities to help them catch the perpetrators.

The copycat attack involving a needle being placed in a banana at Redlynch on Wednesday is the first of such tampering in Cairns.

State and federal governments are coming down hard, offering rewards, extra penalties and compensation for producers.

But it is clear producers will need even more help.

In the meantime we need to be vigilant, especially in supermarkets and other retail outlets, and report any suspicious behaviour.

We need to continue to support our farmers, buy their products and just take care when preparing the fruit for consumption by cutting through the fruit.

Businesses, such as Dundee’s Restaurant on the Waterfront, are selling special sundaes and cocktails made from Shaylee strawberries and donating a portion of proceeds to the Drough Relief Appeal.

We can’t let these grubs beat us. Nick Dalton Deputy editor