Following four days of heavy rainfall in southeast Queensland, a substantial quantity of strawberries has been either discarded or utilized as cattle feed. Taste 'n' See Strawberries, located at Bellmere near Caboolture, has documented the extensive damage incurred by their family-operated farms due to the weather conditions. The farm has resorted to distributing four semi-trailer loads and two skip bins of water-damaged strawberries to other agriculturalists for livestock consumption without charge. Laura Wells, a co-owner, has quantified the loss at approximately 216,000 punnets of strawberries, which were intended for sale through Coles.
This setback occurs during a crucial period for farmers aiming to recover the investments made in their winter-spring production setups. Despite the estimated million-dollar loss within a week, Wells maintains a positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of focusing on future prospects and the continuation of their agricultural endeavours.
Additionally, the adverse weather has led to the abandonment of two land blocks for the remainder of the season. Adrian Schultz, president of the Queensland Strawberry Growers, remarked on the difficulty in assessing the full extent of the damages and its consequent effects on retail pricing. He noted the potential market influence of an influx of second-grade strawberries, which may lower prices, juxtaposed with the scarcity of high-quality fruit potentially driving up costs.
Source: abc.net.au