Vege, fruit prices rise

The costs of some fruits and vegetables have risen by as much as 100 per cent as a result of flooding in the Eastern States.

Glenvale Produce, which delivers fresh foods to Busselton, has reported an increase in the prices of bananas, pineapples, sweet potatoes and ginger.

Director Damian Lee told the Times sweet potato prices had risen by 100 per cent and pineapple prices by 30 per cent and could go higher.

A 60 per cent increase for bananas was also expected.

Mr Lee said the change was not due to crop loss, but mostly to freight routes being blocked.

However, Mr Lee said the problem was starting to ease a little with more routes being opened up.

Broadwater IGA X-press owner Len Halliwell said he had experienced an increase in some produce, including seedless watermelons.

“Our suppliers are telling us to expect more increases, and the availability of average quality produce, not as good as it usually is,” Mr Halliwell said.

Kent Street Bakery manager Colleen Hicks said they expected a slight increase in prices.

“But we try to buy as much as we can from local farmers’ markets, so we wouldn’t expect the floods to affect us as much,” Ms Hicks told the Times.

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