AU: Abundance of produce depressing prices in Queensland
Brisbane wholesaler and exporter Peter Kedwell says good seasonal conditions have seen big supplies of rockmelons, watermelons cherries, stonefruit. all in good condition and summer vegetables are also well supplied.
Kedwell says the export sector offers little relief as the high value of the dollar makes it difficult to get produce to sea.
"We used to export $5 million dollars worth of Queensland rock melons into Dubai each year. We will never supply them again. They are getting them direct from Honduras, by ship, they are being quoted six month price in advance and so the only market we will be supplying in Dubai is the spot market, which is a big loss to the rockmelon industry here in Qld,"
Around the state, there is an abundance of cheap fruit in southern Queensland.
In the Townsville area they are still waiting for nectarines, Cherries range between $8 and $10 kilo across some stores at the moment.
Plums are selling for 6 dollars a kilo, nectarines and peaches for $5 a kg and apricots for $10 a kg.
Kensington Pride and Bowen mangoes can be bought for $5 a kg. Prices will be variable throughout December.
Source: abc.net.au