Aussie fruit in ‘limbo’: Why some supermarket favourites may be hard to find
A warm weather staple is a while away from making a regular appearance in Aussie fruit bowls, with mangoes currently at higher prices and limited supply.
Anton van den Berg, fresh produce expert and co-founder of Box Divvy, told nine.com.au good supply levels are coming, and our patience will pay off with some big bargains.
Mangoes are taking their time, but we’ll soon have them for our summer snacks and desserts. iStockphoto
“Mangoes are taking their time, with prices still almost double where they were this time last year,” he said.
“Darwin’s crop is arriving in fits and starts after staggered flowering, with some fruit not expected until November. Katherine should start contributing during October, while Queensland’s crop is developing promisingly.
“Better supply is ahead, but the bargain-by-the-tray stage will require a little patience. There is a possibility that a late Northern Territory season meets an early Queensland season in November, which holds the potential for big price falls.”
For now, we’re warned the fruit season is “in limbo”, with apples and pears supply still tight, stone fruit not yet available and strawberries waiting for Victoria’s Yarra Ranges crop to kick in from late October.
“Other tropical fruit is also patchy but slowly improving; for example, papaya this week is in good supply – they’re $3.75 each at Box Divvy in NSW – but pineapples, bananas, passionfruit and limes remain tight,” van den Berg said.
“The situation is the same in melons, with seedless watermelons still expensive but rockmelons are in reasonable supply.”
It’s a different story for citrus fruits, with Cara Cara and navel oranges at lower prices thanks to strong supply and late season mandarins like Afourers, Murcott and gold nugget continuing to fill lunchboxes. Blood oranges are also currently at low prices.
We’re warned the fruit season is “in limbo”, with the supply of apples and pears still tight. iStock
Another Aussie summer favourite is set for higher prices this year with a smaller crop expected for Hass avocados. There is supply due to come from New Zealand to help fill the gap but van den Berg said prices will stabilise rather than drop when that crop arrives.
It’s a different story with vegetables though, with most supply looking good, which means lower prices for many.
“Asparagus will be a bright spot this spring, with prices already falling below $1.50 a bunch (at least at Box Divvy),” van den Berg said.
“Vegetable production is peaking [in the Sydney basin], thanks to a warmer-than-usual winter and spring. Broccoli, cabbages, kale, Asian greens, spinach, lettuces and herbs are all at or near their lowest price this season.
“Cucumbers, tomatoes and capsicums have been a little expensive over the past month, but prices are dropping. Potatoes and onions are abundant, driven by southern supplies and Queensland’s emerging spring harvest.”
Veggies that may be harder to come by and cost more this season are mushrooms, which have been impacted by the closure of a Victorian farm, and sweet corn.
“Snow peas, sugar snap and beans are also reasonably priced, but sweetcorn from southeast Queensland is tight: there are some reports of increased fall armyworm activity in this region, and corn is one of the crops in attacks,” he said.
“It’s possible that some farmers have planted less than normal, and local Sydney basin corn is not starting until late November.”
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