From $6 to $10: Why your weekly tomato haul is costing double this week

Tomato prices have hit an all-time high in supermarkets across the country due to a nation-wide shortage.

As a result of the unexpected supply disruption, the cost of tomatoes has almost doubled.

Anton van den Berg from fruit and vegetable buyer Box Divvy has told nine.com.au the shortfall is due to a slow start to Queensland's tomato season this year.

"We're just waiting for Queensland to really start some volume and then prices will drop," he said.

"Regular snacking tomatoes like cherry and grape tomatoes, they are very expensive, probably over $5 a punnet."

He added that there are some yellow grape tomatoes available that he said are "more reasonable in price".

Coles is currently selling their Gourmet and Greenhouse tomatoes for $10.90 a kilo.

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At Woolworths right now customers will pay slightly less, with their Gourmet tomatoes priced at $9.70 a kilo and their The Odd Bunch irregular offering priced at $7.70 per kilo.

Aldi's tomatoes are currently $8.74 per kilo.

Tomatoes aren't the only popular product in the fruit and vegetable grocery category that are struggling at the moment.

"It's been a struggle for leafy greens of late, especially iceberg lettuce at the start of the month, herbs, and English spinach," van den Berg said.

A Fresh Market Update at Woolworths indicated the issue with iceberg lettuce reached a peak the week of April 4.

"Iceberg Lettuce supply has been impacted by severe weather conditions in growing regions," read a notice in stores.

"We are working closely with our growers to return to normal supply as soon as possible."

"Three weeks ago iceberg lettuce was really expensive but that's really started to come down in price as conditions improve," explained van den Berg.

Fresh herbs have also been experiencing some supply issues due to adverse weather conditions in growing regions, most recently Thai Basil.

A Customer Notice at Coles reads: "Due to extreme weather across key growing regions, there is limited availability of Thai Basil Punnets.

"We are working closely with our supplies to improve supply as quickly as possible.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

Beetroots are also in short supply once again/

But van den Berg admitted he is yet to discover the cause of the current beetroot shortage.

He suspects it may be transport related, or perhaps South Australian growing regions are "not producing as much beetroot as they normally are".

And the Australian potato industry is continuing to struggle after less-than-ideal growing conditions for the past two seasons.

Potatoes continue to experience supply issues and corresponding high prices, "particularly washed" varieties.

"Nadines and Desiree are starting to approach $4 a kilo, that's pretty pricey," van den Berg added.

Meanwhile, it's good news for Grape fans, with the fruit having an incredible season this year.

Plenty of flavoursome varieties are available at low prices and this will continue through to May when that season wraps up.

Several varieties of applies remain high in price due to a recent "poor season" which particularly impacted Pink Ladies.

"Apples are at least double in price compared with a year ago," van den Berg explained.

Kanzi, and Fuji, are two of the best buys when it comes to apples right now.

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