Australian supermarket signs that warn customers not to break broccoli stalks before purchase have raised concerns that the pressure on living expenses is affecting families.
This follows comments from the National Federation of Farmers, Australia’s largest state agency on behalf of farmers, as the delay in crop growth due to continued floods and rainfall for several months causes rising vegetable prices. , The shortage of fruits and vegetables will continue until September.
Photos shared on Twitter by a Melbourne-based radio station 3AW On June 27th, the sign in front of the broccoli basket in a private supermarket says: Do not break the broccoli stalks. This is classified as stolen. All broccoli purchases are checked at the cash register. Thank you for your management. “
One Twitter user wrote: Another wrote: “Pay more to our farmers, and I’ll keep the stems on !!”
“You’re ruining the product because it’s unlikely that someone else will buy only the stems. Why isn’t it inappropriate,” another user claimed.
Broccoli as of July 1st price It sits at $ 11.50 per kilogram, down slightly from the $ 11.90 per kilogram reported two weeks ago.
According to responses from social media, some customers also claim that breaking stems and leaving stems can save money. Position..
The Epoch Times contacted Coles Group for comment.
Fast-food giant Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has reported a replacement for wrap and hamburger cabbage lettuce, and prices are rising across the fruit and vegetable sector.
“It’s really hard for everyone in the supply chain to win, including retailers. Farmers, retailers, we have all the problems consumers currently have,” Victoria said. Catherine Berisha, managing director of the Berisha Farm in Weliby, told Channel Nine. today June 12th program.
Food inflation affecting Australia
Food inflation is now slightly higher than general inflation, said Ash Salardini, an economist at the National Federation of Farmers. News Corp.. This is due to various factors such as soaring gasoline prices and labor shortages.
For example, Australia’s annual inflation rate surged from 3.5% in the fourth quarter to 5.1% in the first quarter of 2022, above market estimates of 4.6%. Trading economics..
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also show an increase in all food and nonfood food products in the March quarter.
The surge in demand for cabbage, along with other regional factors, was likely to have helped drive costs up, Salaldini said.
“When lettuce was high, people started using cabbage, and that’s why prices went up,” he said.
“Also, food is seasonal. At this time, it’s a good season in northern New South Wales and Queensland, but it’s too cold in Victoria, and floods and other labor disruptions limit supply. ..
“Unless something else happens, you should get a better supply in a couple of months. Most vegetables are produced domestically, so once the domestic problem is resolved, it’s on track. I’ll be back, “said Salardini.
The soaring broccoli is particularly attributed to supply shortages caused by the turmoil in Queensland.
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Henry Jom is a reporter reporting on local news based in Australia. Contact him at [email protected].