Mystery surrounds profit flow for fresh fruit and veg

Australian shoppers may have noticed a steep price hike on some of their favourite fresh fruit and vegetables over recent months, but profits from higher retail prices are not reaching farmers.

The cost of vegetables inflated by 5.5 percent in the June quarter, while the consumer price index on fruit lifted by 4.7 percent.

Chair of the NSW Farmers Horticulture Committee Guy Gaeta said the noticeable price hikes at retail are creating mystery around where the profits are going, because it’s not to farmers.

“Farmers are not reporting changes to their payment from wholesalers, driving speculation that the more powerful elements of the supply chain, including major retailers and wholesalers, are pocketing the profit.”

“Lebanese cucumbers, for example, are selling for up to $11.90* per kilogram in the supermarkets while growers are currently receiving around $5 per kilogram, equating to a 140 per cent mark up on the farmgate price. Red Delicious apples are selling for $3.90* per kilogram, while they are going for $0.83 per kilogram at the farm gate.”

“Supply chain power inequities are a known challenge for many fresh food farmers, who are price takers due to the perishability of their product.”

“A number of state and federal inquiries have confirmed that farmers in fresh food supply chains such as horticulture, dairy and poultry meat bear the brunt of distorted power dynamics that favour the bigger players.”

“We know a lot of people are doing it tough right now, and our heart goes out to the restaurants and small businesses who are suffering. But the major retailers and wholesalers aren’t struggling right now, and it’s irksome to think they might be capitalising from rising demand for food with the closure of other providers such as fresh food markets.”

Mr Gaeta said the price hikes are likely attributable to a number of factors, including labour shortages.

“There’s a number of complexities behind the inflation of essential goods and we don’t want to speculate too much on these, however what we do know is that farmers are not seeing a fair distribution of profit for their produce,” Mr Gaeta said.

“We need to see the Horticulture Code strengthened to increase market price transparency.”

“Growers are at the coalface of a number of challenges at the moment, including the significant shortages in labour supply caused by ongoing border restrictions amid COVID-19.”

“Many growers are in a position where they need to recoup their losses, and it’s heartbreaking for them to see someone else pocket the increased profit for their produce,” Mr Gaeta concluded.

* Retail prices are based on 3 August 2021 prices at Coles online 


Date: Wednesday, 4 August 2021
Media Contact:  Michael Burt  | 0428 228 988 | [email protected]