A grower in southwest Victoria, Australia, has integrated hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of broccoli back into the soil due to bitterness caused by arid conditions. Ben Pohlner, who operates Volcano Produce, an organic farm near Warrnambool, reported that soil moisture deficiency negatively influenced the flavor of his brassicas.
Pohlner stated, "The broccoli has gotten water stress and gone bitter — we've had crop after crop fail on us this year, especially over summer." Despite producing visually acceptable broccoli and cauliflower heads, the taste rendered them unsuitable for consumption, prompting the decision to reincorporate them into the ground to maintain product reputation.
Since September, no edible broccoli has been sold, leading to financial losses estimated between $40,000 and $50,000 per crop. Pohlner noted, "We need 100 millilitres of rain at the very least, and that's just to get some water down deep enough to get the brassicas established." Despite financial setbacks from brassica crops, the farm continues to cultivate approximately 70 varieties of fruits and vegetables, with strawberries, carrots, beetroot, garlic, capsicums, chillies, and eggplant performing well.
New broccoli crops comprising 10,000 to 20,000 plants emerge biweekly. Pohlner explained, "It's a reasonable amount there, we're not a big farm by any means we're just a small chemical-free farm." The dry winter necessitated continuous irrigation efforts, challenging due to limited water access for large plant volumes.
While larger-scale suppliers with advanced irrigation systems have not faced similar issues, smaller operations in western Victoria have also reported bitter broccoli. Concurrently, potato growers near Ballarat are experiencing financial impacts from the persistent dry spell. Some have abstained from planting, while others ration water due to low irrigation dam levels.
Kain Richardson from Newlyn observed, "It's been an exceptionally dry eight months; it's been a massive change in seasons." The reliance on underground water and bores has increased, with anticipated yield reductions. Richardson estimated a loss of two to three million in farm gate value from the district. Industry sources indicate stable potato supplies, with no expected price increases for hot chips or fresh potatoes.
Source: ABC News