NATION Disasters hit prices Fires, drought make meat, fruit and vegetables more costly

THE prices of vegetables, fruit and meat are tipped to rise as the full impact of the bushfires and drought hits fresh produce.

Lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, honey and nuts are expected to be first in line for price rises in the shortterm, experts say.

And shoppers can also expect some decline in the quality of goods supplied.

James Whiteside, chief executive officer of AUSVEG, the peak industry body for vegetable and potato growers, said the loss of production and disruption to supply chains would be felt by consumers at checkouts.

The exact scale of the price hikes remains unclear.

“Roads closed means products moving into markets is disrupted and there’s shortterm shortages,” Mr Whiteside said. “There is also a significant impact of this relentless heat and dry conditions on products, which I think will have a significant impact on fresh food for many months.”

Mr Whiteside said in Victoria’s East Gippsland region, large masses of vegetable crops would be impacted.

“Lots of spinach and lettuces are grown here and a lot of this product would go to Sydney

up the coast road and up the Pacific Highway, which is shut,” he said.

The quality of food produce was also likely to be diminished as a result of the fires and drought.

“Meeting high-quality specs becomes harder and harder if it’s 43 degrees and you have all sorts of heat damage,” Mr Whiteside said.

The NSW Apiarists’ Association

has called for an urgent meeting with the state government to get help for the bee industry, which is in “crisis”.

Association president Stephen Targett said the fires would have a big impact on honey and nut production.

Meat and Livestock Australia said 8 per cent of the nation’s cattle herd and 13 per cent of the nation’s sheep had been impacted by natural disasters.