In South Australia, Harry Kapiris, the proprietor of Gawler River Tomatoes, has disposed of approximately $1.1 million worth of tomatoes following the detection of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus. The outbreak prompted the state government to enforce a complete prohibition on the movement of stock from three farms located on the Adelaide Plains. This measure aims to halt the virus's spread.
Kapiris, facing the virus's impact, also had to lay off 30 workers after the virus was identified last month. The containment efforts have led to inter-state restrictions, with four states refusing produce from the affected areas. The financial repercussions for Kapiris extend beyond the immediate loss, with potential costs due to quarantine measures estimated between $3-4 million.
Despite the drastic measures taken, Kapiris has called for compensation, pointing out the role of biosecurity in preventing such outbreaks. He suggests that the introduction of the virus could be traced back to imported seedlings, indicating a breach in biosecurity protocols. "At the end of the day, what happened to us wasn't our fault," Kapiris remarked on the situation.
Source: The Greek Herald