A shortage of workers, weather events like the Queensland floods, and the rising cost of production has put pressure on the supply of fresh produce and sparked high prices for consumers.

For growers, the cost of production issues are significant. Fertiliser costs, chemical costs, fuel costs, and wage costs, are having critical impacts on growers to be able to plant their crops.

AUSVEG has called on the new government to implement the Australian Agriculture Visa given the need for growers to access a reliable, competent and efficient workforce.

AUSVEG is and will continue to work with new Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to search for solutions to the current cost pressures facing growers.

AUSVEG is also continuing to engage with relevant departments and authorities around the supply chain issues including Treasury and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).

AUSVEG is also raising awareness of the costs pressures to consumers and educating them that prices are likely to remain high because of these pressures, in the media.

• Click here to watch AUSVEG National Public Affairs Manager & National Farmers Federation Horticulture Council Executive Officer Tyson Cattle discuss the vegetable price crunch on the Seven Network’s Sunrise program.
• Click here to watch Tyson discuss produce prices and the state of the Western Australian potato industry on ABC’s Landline program.
• Click here to watch Tyson discuss high vegetable costs on Sky News Australia.
• Click here to watch Tyson discuss price pressures on Channel 9’s Today show.
• Click here to read an article in The Age.
• Click here to read an article in the The Guardian.
• Click here to read an article in The Courier Mail.
• Click here to read an article in the Herald Sun.