Cyclone Debbie: What will happen to grocery prices?
Updated
Cyclone Debbie has left a trail of destruction.
And it's not looking good for farmers and consumers.
While farmers count the cost, here's a look at what it could mean for Australian shoppers.
Key points:
- Prices for fruit and vegetables could rise
- Crops include capsicum, tomato, eggplant, pumpkin, cucumber, beans and corn
- It's important to support Australian growers after the cyclone
Prices could go up
Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said while it was early days, he expected the impact would be felt by Australian consumers.
"If you get a devastation of that kind ... what happens is prices really work on supply and demand," Mr Zimmerman said.
"I think you're going to see in the coming weeks there will be a shortage and in some cases, not in all, but in some cases retailers may have to look overseas to buy products.
"Unfortunately prices will rise at the supermarket and that's going to affect everyone across (Australia)."
What's the damage?
National Farmers' Federation chief executive Tony Mahar said while they knew sugarcane crops had been impacted, they expected a number of growers had been hit.
"It really is too early to confirm the extent of the damage in terms of the area of crop damage and the value of the damage," Mr Mahar said.
"But it is safe to say, given the force of the storm, farmers in the region will have suffered significant losses to not only crops but also infrastructure."
ABC reporter Lisa Herbert spoke with farmers in north Queensland, with many reporting big damage to crops.
Farmer Glen Clarke said his cane crop at Proserpine had been flattened.
"It's like a steamroller has driven over the top," he said.
"A crop is normally three to four metres tall and it's now knee to waist high."
What's grown in the area?
Mr Mahar said the area was somewhat of a "food bowl" with the Bowen region known for capsicum, tomato, eggplant, pumpkin, cucumber, beans and corn.
"North Queensland is also known for its iconic summer fruits and the Burdekin, Proserpine and Mackay areas is prime sugarcane production land," he said.
"The combined sugarcane harvest of the Burdekin, Proserpine and Mackay areas last year was 17.5 million tonnes and valued at $850 million.
"The harvest from these three areas represented half of the national sugar cane crop. There are more than 1,100 cane growing businesses in the storm zone."
But it's not just the damage to crops that could see prices rise
He said ahead of the cyclone there were predictions there would be $1 billion worth of damage "just to crops".
"This did not take into the account damage to infrastructure, both public and private," he said.
"Damage to roads and other transport infrastructure will be expensive and will also impact on the process of getting produce to market.
"On-farm damage to sheds, machinery, fences and silos will be an additional hit for farmers.
"In the Bowen region horticulture alone turns over $450 million a year and employs 3,500 people.
"Any hurt suffered by this industry is felt throughout the community."
How can you support our farmers?
Mr Zimmerman said it was important to remember the people hardest hit: farmers and people they employ.
"Sure it's going to cost us more to buy our groceries but in the scheme of things … when we look at the devastation that's occurred and the cost increasing for you and I as consumers … we need to step back and take some serious thought and concern," he said.
"Our prayers and thoughts [are] with those people who may lose their life and loved ones or be completely devastated by the fact they've lost their livelihood."
Mr Zimmerman said it was important for consumers to support farmers by continuing to buy Australian fruit and vegetables, as the farmers who had lost most of their crops might still have a small portion of goods to sell to help rebuild their business.
"It's important for the future of the economy," he said.
More stories:
- Baby girl Billiana delivered 'safe and dry' at Whitsunday ambulance station
- Cyclone Debbie photographs capture trail of destruction left across north Queensland
- Bowen, Airlie Beach and Proserpine cut off; BOM says winds still strong
- Cyclone Debbie wreaks havoc on Whitsunday islands, with Daydream, Hamilton counting losses
- What to do in the storm's aftermath
Topics: cyclones, disasters-and-accidents, weather, airlie-beach-4802, qld
First posted
