Why the price of blueberries could continue to rise in the coming months

The Advertiser

a day ago

Around 25 per cent of Australia's blueberry crop has been destroyed by recent floods, which could lead to price increases later this year.
Blueberries have surged to almost $10 a punnet but Berries Australia CEO Rachel Mackenzie told ACM the price right now on the supermarket shelf was consistent for non-seasonal produce.
Reduced availability of crops due to flood damage might lead to higher prices than last year in the coming peak season, which is between October and February, Ms Mackenzie said.
Coffs Harbour produces more than 80 per cent of Australia's blueberries.
Along with other areas in the Hunter and mid north coast, the region was devastated by the recent, record-breaking floods in May, wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector.
Ms Mackenzie noted there was more blueberry supply on the horizon from Western Australia in the coming weeks, which may buffer against higher prices.
READ MORE: Record-breaking floods are an insurance 'catastrophe'
Oysters, cattle, bees, and horticulture are some of the industries affected by recent crises.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said while the exact figures were unknown, the damage bill would run in the "hundreds of millions of dollars".
"It's going to be a long road ahead to recovery, and our farmers must not walk this alone," he said.
NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Mal Holm said the devastation to dairy farmers, particularly in the Manning region, was substantial.
"There are a lot of very stressed dairy farmers," he said.
"They are not only worried about their future but also about the impact on their animals."
Some farmers, he said, won't return to farming.
Camden Haven oyster farm's Brandon Armstrong said the lingering impacts of Cyclone Alfred in February were still felt across the regional agriculture sector.
"Oysters have been under a lot of stress since Cyclone Alfred two months ago," he said.
"A lot of water coming through is low salinity in the estuary, and the latest flood is a whole lot of dirty water on top of that.
"People shouldn't be concerned about pricing; other products can fill the gap. They should be more concerned about accessing stock from local estuaries."
Around 25 per cent of Australia's blueberry crop has been destroyed by recent floods, which could lead to price increases later this year.
Blueberries have surged to almost $10 a punnet but Berries Australia CEO Rachel Mackenzie told ACM the price right now on the supermarket shelf was consistent for non-seasonal produce.
Reduced availability of crops due to flood damage might lead to higher prices than last year in the coming peak season, which is between October and February, Ms Mackenzie said.
Coffs Harbour produces more than 80 per cent of Australia's blueberries.
Along with other areas in the Hunter and mid north coast, the region was devastated by the recent, record-breaking floods in May, wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector.
Ms Mackenzie noted there was more blueberry supply on the horizon from Western Australia in the coming weeks, which may buffer against higher prices.
READ MORE: Record-breaking floods are an insurance 'catastrophe'
Oysters, cattle, bees, and horticulture are some of the industries affected by recent crises.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said while the exact figures were unknown, the damage bill would run in the "hundreds of millions of dollars".
"It's going to be a long road ahead to recovery, and our farmers must not walk this alone," he said.
NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Mal Holm said the devastation to dairy farmers, particularly in the Manning region, was substantial.
"There are a lot of very stressed dairy farmers," he said.
"They are not only worried about their future but also about the impact on their animals."
Some farmers, he said, won't return to farming.
Camden Haven oyster farm's Brandon Armstrong said the lingering impacts of Cyclone Alfred in February were still felt across the regional agriculture sector.
"Oysters have been under a lot of stress since Cyclone Alfred two months ago," he said.
"A lot of water coming through is low salinity in the estuary, and the latest flood is a whole lot of dirty water on top of that.
"People shouldn't be concerned about pricing; other products can fill the gap. They should be more concerned about accessing stock from local estuaries."
Around 25 per cent of Australia's blueberry crop has been destroyed by recent floods, which could lead to price increases later this year.
Blueberries have surged to almost $10 a punnet but Berries Australia CEO Rachel Mackenzie told ACM the price right now on the supermarket shelf was consistent for non-seasonal produce.
Reduced availability of crops due to flood damage might lead to higher prices than last year in the coming peak season, which is between October and February, Ms Mackenzie said.
Coffs Harbour produces more than 80 per cent of Australia's blueberries.
Along with other areas in the Hunter and mid north coast, the region was devastated by the recent, record-breaking floods in May, wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector.
Ms Mackenzie noted there was more blueberry supply on the horizon from Western Australia in the coming weeks, which may buffer against higher prices.
READ MORE: Record-breaking floods are an insurance 'catastrophe'
Oysters, cattle, bees, and horticulture are some of the industries affected by recent crises.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said while the exact figures were unknown, the damage bill would run in the "hundreds of millions of dollars".
"It's going to be a long road ahead to recovery, and our farmers must not walk this alone," he said.
NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Mal Holm said the devastation to dairy farmers, particularly in the Manning region, was substantial.
"There are a lot of very stressed dairy farmers," he said.
"They are not only worried about their future but also about the impact on their animals."
Some farmers, he said, won't return to farming.
Camden Haven oyster farm's Brandon Armstrong said the lingering impacts of Cyclone Alfred in February were still felt across the regional agriculture sector.
"Oysters have been under a lot of stress since Cyclone Alfred two months ago," he said.
"A lot of water coming through is low salinity in the estuary, and the latest flood is a whole lot of dirty water on top of that.
"People shouldn't be concerned about pricing; other products can fill the gap. They should be more concerned about accessing stock from local estuaries."
Around 25 per cent of Australia's blueberry crop has been destroyed by recent floods, which could lead to price increases later this year.
Blueberries have surged to almost $10 a punnet but Berries Australia CEO Rachel Mackenzie told ACM the price right now on the supermarket shelf was consistent for non-seasonal produce.
Reduced availability of crops due to flood damage might lead to higher prices than last year in the coming peak season, which is between October and February, Ms Mackenzie said.
Coffs Harbour produces more than 80 per cent of Australia's blueberries.
Along with other areas in the Hunter and mid north coast, the region was devastated by the recent, record-breaking floods in May, wreaking havoc on the agriculture sector.
Ms Mackenzie noted there was more blueberry supply on the horizon from Western Australia in the coming weeks, which may buffer against higher prices.
READ MORE: Record-breaking floods are an insurance 'catastrophe'
Oysters, cattle, bees, and horticulture are some of the industries affected by recent crises.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said while the exact figures were unknown, the damage bill would run in the "hundreds of millions of dollars".
"It's going to be a long road ahead to recovery, and our farmers must not walk this alone," he said.
NSW Farmers dairy committee chair Mal Holm said the devastation to dairy farmers, particularly in the Manning region, was substantial.
"There are a lot of very stressed dairy farmers," he said.
"They are not only worried about their future but also about the impact on their animals."
Some farmers, he said, won't return to farming.
Camden Haven oyster farm's Brandon Armstrong said the lingering impacts of Cyclone Alfred in February were still felt across the regional agriculture sector.
"Oysters have been under a lot of stress since Cyclone Alfred two months ago," he said.
"A lot of water coming through is low salinity in the estuary, and the latest flood is a whole lot of dirty water on top of that.
"People shouldn't be concerned about pricing; other products can fill the gap. They should be more concerned about accessing stock from local estuaries."