Ideal growing conditions this year have seen the volume of vegetables in one of Australia's largest winter production regions skyrocket, leading to oversupply and low farmgate prices.
abc.net.au/news/winter-vegetable-oversupply-whitsunday-region-low-farmgate/102731592It is harvest time in Bowen, near Queensland's Whitsundays, and capsicums, tomatoes, corn and eggplants are just a few of the vegetables being picked.
The vegetable glut has led to an oversupply which, given the basic law of supply and demand, should lead to cheaper veggies in the supermarket. "Everyone forgets in Australia, we have 26 million people, we already grow food for 60 to 80 million people," he said.Grower Carl Walker said farmers needed to take some accountability for their role in the glut."Traditionally, when times are tough, the first thing people cut out of their diet is fresh fruit and veggies, which is quite insane."
Woolworths said the company drew on supply chains from across the country to offer customers more consistent availability. "We source from some amazing growers in the Bowen and Gumlu region in key categories including ... capsicums, field tomatoes, beans and corn and have seen significant volume growth across each of these categories which enables us to offer our customers the best quality vegetables at the best price," they said.Organic grower and agronomist Jessica Volker also farms in Bowen and, like Mr Walker, said she would like to be paid fairly.
"They also should be putting a mark-up on it that reflects the need of the community and not just the shareholders, because this is a time when we all should be helping each other out."In the past, a solution for a vegetable glut would be to donate produce not bound for the supermarkets.
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