Fruitlink News

Prices of tomatoes expected to soar

Thu, 24 May 2012 05:47:00 GMT

THE price of tomatoes has soared 300 per cent this year after production was hit by poor quality fruit and cool weather.

Average field tomatoes selling for $1.99 per kilo in February are now marked at $7.98 in supermarkets.

Wholesaler Anthony John said prices have been climbing over the past 12 weeks.

"Last week (wholesale) prices hit the high of $5.50 compared to the usual price of $2 or $3,'' he said.

``We came out of the summer months lacking quality which can happen at that time of year. Good quality tomatoes were hard to come by and that is when prices began to rise.''

Some growing regions were hit with a few days of cool weather that dramatically slowed the growth of the fruit. And heavy rain in north Queensland ``knocked around the early harvest''.

Mr John said farmers also devoted growing land to trialling new disease-resistant varieties.

A Woolworths spokeswoman confirmed production had been impacted by lower yields of fruit after a bout of cool weather.

by: Kris Crane

From:The Courier-Mail

Better growing conditions and new industry quality standards

Wed, 02 May 2012 23:41:00 GMT

This year’s Australian Mandarin crop has hit the market with better quality, better looking fruit designed to entice consumers to reconnect with an Aussie favourite.

According to CEO of Citrus Australia, Judith Damiani, better growing conditions this season have really allowed mandarins to shine.

"Aussie mandarins are sweet, easy to peel and convenient, high in anti-oxidants and vitamin C, making them the perfect and delicious health snack at school, home or work during the winter months," she said.

Ms Damiani said the adoption of new quality assurance standards for the industry also meant this year consumers could look forward to more consistent eating fruit.

"The industry has really come on board with the new standards and we think consumers will definitely see the difference," she said.

"With the season now underway, we’re urging those shoppers who haven’t had Australian Mandarins on their list to think again."

Ms Damiani said that with at least ten different varieties hitting the shelves over the course of the season, consumers have a chance to sample a wide variety of fruit, each with their unique characteristics.

"It’s fair to say that not all 'mandies' are the same!" she said.

Last year, Australians consumed more than 70,000 tonnes of Aussie mandarins during the season, which was grown on more than 2.3 million Australian citrus trees right across the nation.

The Aussie mandarin season runs from April through to October.

For more information:

Leigh McClusky
Tel: +61 (08) 8272 3000

or visit www.aussiemandarins.com.au

Metcash to axe 478 jobs in restructure

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:59:00 GMT

FRANKLINS owner and grocery wholesaler Metcash will shed 478 jobs as it restructures its business in response to difficult trading conditions. read more

Just Around the Corner

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:21:00 GMT

Everyone loves a bargain, especially those who are conscious of their spending. Yet we still want good value for our hard earned dollar. In fact, good value for money is the primary factor for grocery store choice according to the global market research firm Nielsen Company. Today’s shopper wants the best of both worlds – to be the bargain hunter whilst expecting a wide selection of quality brands and service.

Woolworths and Coles targeted as Australian Competition and Consumer Commission seeks grocery suppliers to expose underhanded tactics

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:13:00 GMT

WOOLWORTHS and Coles face a nervous wait as the competition watchdog works to put the supermarket giants in the dock over claims they pressured suppliers to drop prices.

Shoppers and motorists have been put front and centre of a new-look Australian Competition and Consumer Commission under Rod Sims.

Mr Sims said the watchdog was in talks with grocery suppliers as it sought evidence to support a prosecution. Listed companies are among those talking to the commission.

The revelation comes amid fresh allegations that the major supermarket chains have been favouring generic home brands and adopting heavy-handed tactics to force brand names off store shelves.

A Woolworths spokeswoman said there was no substance to the allegations.

But Mr Sims said the ACCC wanted to speak to suppliers who had been badly treated.

He conceded prosecutions against the big supermarkets for "unconscionable conduct" could be difficult but said action was vital given the high level of complaints.

Coles and Woolworths have denied any wrongdoing.

In a statement, Woolworths said it was ready to answer any questions raised by Mr Sims and the ACCC: "As a responsible retailer, we stand ready to discuss and resolve any issues that the ACCC would like to raise with us."

Mr Sims said that the lure of "immunity" from prosecution would help whistleblowers lift the veil of secrecy over the coming months.

"If supermarkets are using their undoubted market power to push down a supplier price, that may be good for consumers," he said.

"But a lot of the stories we are hearing suggests they are going too far.

"They have 50 per cent of the fresh fruit and vegetable market and 70 per cent of the grocery suppliers across the entire economy and that is a lot of market power and, if you are supplying to them, that means they are in a strong position."

The fuel sector also is being put under the microscope in a crackdown aimed at delivering consumers fairer fuel prices.

Despite several previous failed inquiries into petrol pricing by the ACCC, Mr Sims said that it remained a key priority as there seemed to be "co-ordinated" weekly price movements at the bowser.

Source: Courier Mail 15/03/2012

Floods wipe out New South Wales potato capital's crop

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:37:00 GMT

New South Wales potato capital, Crookwell, has been devastated by recent flooding, which came after weeks of humid weather.

The damage caused to the $3 million potato industry is significant and farmers say it will take five years to restore certified seed potato production.

New South Wales potato capital, Crookwell, has been devastated by recent flooding, which came after weeks of humid weather.

The damage caused to the $3 million potato industry is significant and farmers say it will take five years to restore certified seed potato production.

In the meantime North Queensland and South Australia, will have to change the habit of generations and seek their supply from elsewhere, threatening the future of the industry in the area.

There are fears that, even if the coming years are more kind to the industry, up to half the businesses in the region may already be out of business as a result of the recent floods.

The new South Wales Primary Industry Department has offered financial assistance, but there are fears that it may not be enough.

Crookwell Potato Growers Association president Matthew Gay said yesterday: “We’re looking at a minimum 90 per cent damage to our farms, but realistically it’s 100 per cent.

“I’m too frightened to contact other growers in the area who’ve had time to scope the extent of the destruction.

“Frankly, though, I don’t know how or what they’ll do; there’s just nowhere for them to go from here.”

Senior regional DPI Inspector Paul Anderson said there were currently six certified potato growers in the area, but it was expected at least half of these would not continue.

“This is beyond devastating,” Mr Anderson said.

“The extent of damage to farm lands around Crookwell and Goulburn has led this to be declared a natural disaster zone.

“There is no way the potato crop will survive.

“Even a few days after the rain has stopped, the fields are boggy and disease-ridden. There’s no light at the end of this tunnel.”

Possibly the worst things about the whole affair is the timing - the growers were just days away from harvesting their crops and were looking forward to their first good season after years of drought.

Source: www.goulburnpost.com.au

Growing pains become unbearable

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:21:00 GMT

ANDREW Philip is no slouch when it comes to vegetable farming. In the 13 years since taking the helm of his family's 50-year-old tomato-growing business, SP Exports, he has transformed the small southern Queensland enterprise into Australia's biggest tomato grower. Read More

Big Tomato 'sent broke' by chains

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:53:00 GMT

AUSTRALIA'S biggest tomato grower has gone broke and is blaming price manipulation by the two major supermarkets for playing a key role in his demise. Read more

Food industry submits its Federal Budget wish-list to Canberra

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:36:00 GMT

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), representing key food industry companies, has just made its submissions to the Federal Department of Treasury in relation to the upcoming May 2012 Federal Budget. Read more

Fresh battleground for Coles and Woolworths

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:16:00 GMT

Here is an interesting perspective on this 'war' from a marketing point of view...Read more

National Affairs Food fight 'a super fruit and veg beat-up'

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:32:00 GMT

THE supermarket giants have been accused of mounting a phoney war as food price deflation, not discounting, delivers shoppers long-awaited relief at the checkout. As Julia Gillard called on supermarkets to treat farmers "fairly", the retail rivals yesterday added fruit and vegetables to their arsenal of cut-price groceries.Read more

ACCC should examine Coles - Xenophon

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:29:00 GMT

MOVES by Coles to slash its fresh produce prices should be examined by the competition watchdog, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says.

The supermarket giant yesterday began cutting the shelf price of some of its fruit and vegetables by up to 50 per cent, claiming it would help farmers shift excess stock.

But Senator Xenophon today backed claims by the Australian Greens, who belive such heavy discounts could put some local growers out of business and at no benefit to shoppers. Read more

Coles launches a fresh battle on Woolies

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:35:00 GMT

Coles is launching a new advertising campaign targeting Woolies' claim as the fresh food people, and furthering its price war. New campaign boasts: "There's no freshness like Coles freshness" Customers cash in on best fruit and vegetables in a decade Prices will be slashed by up to half, as the fresh food war heats up
SUPERMARKET giant Coles is trying to steal the "fresh food" crown from arch-rival Woolworths.
In a fruit and vegetable price showdown, weekly "super specials" - which involve slashing regular costs by up to a half - will extend from five items to 12 as bumper crops are offloaded nationwide. Read more

Fruit and vegetable growers fear they may be victims in supermarket wars

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:12:00 GMT

AUSTRALIAN fruit and vegetable growers fear they will become the latest victims in the supermarket price wars after Coles slashed its fresh produce prices. Read more

Almost half Australia’s food industry is owned by foreign investors, report shows

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:53:00 GMT

A report on foreign investment in Australia from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has found that foreign firms accounted for ownership of about half of the nation’s dairy, sugar and red meat sectors.Read more