While growers appreciate rain, it may often be excessive. Additionally, rain is viewed as a godsend in a place like Australia, where summer temperatures can reach dangerously high levels. “The weather has been fairly nice over the last six months,” says Vincent Eysseric of Coolibah Herbs, “but we did have an abnormally rainy spring.” It is undeniable that it was wet all the way down the east coast from Queensland to Victoria from September to the end of last year. The Australian citizens also experienced a large storm with hail, but it has been back to normal since around mid-December, with pleasant temperatures ranging from 24 to 33 degrees. Moreover, there were no excesses as witnessed in the past.
People have been eating properly during the pandemic, thus interest in fresh-cut produce has been strong in recent years. “Spinach has been the great winner here, with its popularity skyrocketing in the previous 2-3 years. Organic spinach currently accounts for about half of our spinach sales in Australia, so if you cultivate organic spinach, you’re on to a winner”. Australia has experienced a more tranquil era than it has had since the outbreak began, but everything changed again in January when the country opened its state and international borders and declared that lockdowns were no longer necessary.
Retail has remained strong throughout, but they are now having supply chain issues and staff shortages and according to Vincent they can’t get his produce on the shelves. “We are also short on labour due to diseases and people isolating; we are still suffering the effects of the loss of 300,000 backpackers who made up Australia’s workforce. Our borders are now open, but getting into the nation is so difficult, with laws changing constantly and the constant possibility of another shutdown, that it is simply too dangerous for backpackers to travel. Only 20% of the flights are landing compared to before the pandemic.
Export remains challenging due to a lack of commercial planes and freight that is three times more expensive than before.
Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)
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