‘We’ll bear the cost’: Pineapple farmers sound biosecurity alarm as weather warms up

As the weather warms up, shoppers are ready to tuck into pineapples. While Australia grows some of the best in the world – harvested 365 days a year, thanks to four growing regions – farmers have been watching with growing despair as a steady stream of pineapple is imported from countries like India and Indonesia.

Scott Maxwell has been farming pineapples for over three decades, running Springvale Pines in Queensland with his wife Katherine. He says the imports not only place price pressures on locally grown pineapples, but they pose a serious biosecurity risk for farms.

“I struggle to see how you can pick a ripe pineapple over there and ship it over here, and it turns up three or four weeks after it’s been picked and can still be any good,” Maxwell, the Chair of Australian Pineapples, told nine.com.au.

“They have identified pests out there that they have that we don’t. Because we’re such a small industry, we have very few registered chemicals left for pineapples.

“If there are pests that get through biosecurity and end up out in our industry, pineapple farmers are the ones who have to bear the cost of dealing with it.”

Unlike many commercial crops, Australian pineapples are virtually chemical-free during their crucial growth window, receiving no chemical applications from the moment they flower until harvest six to eight months later.

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The biosecurity threat arrives alongside soaring production costs on home soil. Spiralling fuel, fertiliser and freight bills have pinched grower margins, while the crop’s lengthy lifecycle leaves little room to manoeuvre.

“Pineapples are a two-year crop. Once they’re planted, you’re committed to looking after them for that two years to try and make your money back,” Maxwell said.

“You can’t just pull out when things get expensive.”

He said while imports “might seem like a good idea” to drive prices down, “once the local stuff is gone, there’s no competition”.

“And as soon as there’s no competition, the price just goes through the roof.”

The average cost of a pineapple in supermarkets this spring is approximately $7; which, Scott said, when compared to other fruits by weight is excellent value for money.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry told nine.com.au any import assessment is subject to a rigorous, science-based process, stressing the review does not guarantee trade will proceed or that imports are imminent.

“The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is undertaking a rigorous, science-based process,” they said.

“It does not mean that trade will occur, or that it is imminent. The Albanese Labor Government will never compromise on biosecurity.

“We have delivered more than $2 billion in additional funding to strengthen our frontline defences and protect Australian farmers.

“Australia is a proud, two-way trading nation, especially the Australian agriculture sector. Agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports reached a high of almost $82 billion in 2025-26, with more demand than ever for Australia’s world-class food and fibre.”

While the cost of running a pineapple farm is more challenging than ever before, in line with Australian farming in general, Maxwell said he has no plans to stop growing pineapples or advocating for the protection of his industry.

“Australian fruit and veggies are the safest in the world,” he said.

“I have complete confidence in eating whatever is grown in Australia, whereas with other countries, there’s no real way of checking what has or hasn’t been used.”