Perfection Fresh, a fruit and vegetable grower in South Australia, has announced a reduction in its workforce following the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) within its operations. This marks the first occurrence of the virus in Australia, affecting three businesses in the region, including Gawler River Tomato and SA Tomatoes, which have been quarantined by the South Australian government. The outbreak has prompted Western Australia and Queensland to implement bans on SA tomatoes, while New South Wales continues to trade with unaffected businesses.
In response to the outbreak, South Australia's Premier Peter Malinauskas emphasized the severe impact of ToBRFV on tomato productivity, potentially reducing output by up to 75%. The state has initiated a worker assistance hub at the Virginia Horticultural Centre to support the affected workforce, including those from the Pacific Islands, by providing access to Centrelink and charities. The government aims to protect the $230 million industry and contain the virus with hopes of eradication, given its limited detection to three sites.
Perfection Fresh has criticized the government's lockdown measures as "entirely unnecessary," citing the virus's containment and highlighting the significant impact on employees and their families. The company, one of Australia's largest producers, has had to destroy hundreds of tonnes of tomatoes due to the outbreak, raising concerns over potential price increases for tomatoes nationwide. Despite the appearance of affected tomatoes, they remain safe for consumption, with no health risks posed to humans.
Source: ABC Net