Last week saw temperatures in southern Australia reach record lows, -12.9 in Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria also felt the brunt of the cold weather. Adelaide city saw the temperature drop to 0.6 degrees on Wednesday, not a record low but the it was lowest temperature recorded in the city since 1908.
"We had a very mild frost on Tuesday morning and the major frost on Wednesday morning," said Anthony De Ieso, from Thorndon Park Produce, Gawler River, South Australia.
"It is not unusual for it to be cold at this of the year and we have had frost before, but last Wednesday did break a few records across Adelaide. The temperature got to -1 to 0 degrees."
Anthony said that it's hard to tell the extent of the damage to crops, as frost damage can still appear for days after. "At this stage, it's looking about 15% of our spinach crop. There is also damage appearing on other crops like spring onions and silver beet. Any damaged crops will have to go into waste or chopped back into the ground as it kills the leaves."
Anthony is unsure as to the extent of the damage in other areas, but thinks there will be damage across other states but nothing major at this stage.
For more information:
Anthony De Ieso
Thorndon Park Produce
Tel.: +61 8280 9722
[email protected]
www.thorndonparkproduce.com.au