Latest news with #SamKisvarda
Economic Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Tomato prices surge in Australia as virus outbreak and wet weather trigger major shortage
Australia faces a tomato shortage due to a reduction in supply caused by heavy rain and virus outbreaks. Prices have increased significantly. Supermarkets are working to resolve the issue. Prices are expected to come down soon. Normal supply is anticipated by August or September, and consumers are hopeful for relief in the near future. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why are there no tomatoes in supermarkets? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads When will tomatoes return to supermarkets? Tomatoes seem to have become harder to come by in Australia as consumers are forced to pay exorbitant prices due to supply issues in recent weeks. As fresh varieties of tomatoes are affected by different degrees, two major supermarket chains of Australia have reported supply weather conditions in northern Australia and detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in South Australia and Victoria have played a vital role in reducing stocks, yield and quality of tomatoes, according to ABC News. According to major supermarket and wholesale suppliers Flavourite, the average price of tomatoes has increased by $5 per chief marketing officer, Sam Kisvarda, has said that consumers are paying 'never seen before prices' as the weather in northern Australia and the virus outbreak in Victoria and South Australia halted the supply of the staple product. "At this time of the year in winter, compared to a usual year, it's about $5 more per kilo on average," he shortage of tomatoes in supermarkets has been caused by wild weather in Queensland, including heavy rain and flooding from ex-tropical cyclone Alfred and unseasonably cool conditions. According to ABC News, tomatoes were planted later than usual in the Sunshine State, so there have been delays in the fruit supermarkets are anticipating things to change soon and are very hopeful that the tomatoes will return on the shelves. "We are working closely with our network of growers across Australia on product specifications and increasing our sourcing options," a Coles spokesperson said, ABC News stated that he expected prices to start to come down in the coming weeks. "We should be back to normal supply by August or September," he said.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Prices skyrocket due to tomato shortage caused by virus outbreak, wet weather
Consumers are paying "never-seen-before" high prices for fresh tomatoes, as the staple product has become harder to come by in recent weeks. Australia's two major supermarket chains have reported supply issues, with all fresh tomato varieties affected to varying degrees. Challenging weather conditions in northern Australia have reduced tomato stocks. Production has also been squeezed by the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in South Australia and Victoria, which reduces yield and quality. The average price of tomatoes has increased by $5 per kilo, according to major supermarket and wholesale suppliers Flavourite. "Consumers are seeing high prices, which they've probably never seen this high before," Flavourite's chief marketing officer, Sam Kisvarda, said. "The weather in northern Australia and virus outbreak in Victoria and South Australia halted supply and that's put more pressure on the market, not having the fruit available for the consumer. "At this time of the year in winter, compared to a usual year, it's about $5 more per kilo on average." The southern states supply tomatoes in summer and autumn, but as the weather cools down in winter, harvesting ramps up in the north. But wild weather in Queensland, including heavy rain and flooding from ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, followed by unseasonably cool conditions, has pushed back production. Tomatoes were planted later than usual in the sunshine state, so there have been delays in the fruit ripening. A Woolworths spokesperson said the current "gap" on shelves has coincided with the "usual annual supply transition from South Australia to Queensland". "The glasshouse growers, at this time of the year, make up a small percentage of what goes into the marketplace; it's really dictated by the Queensland outdoor season," Mr Kisvarda said. The detection of tomato brown rugose virus, which led to the closure of some growing sites, has further limited the supply of tomatoes from southern growing regions, a Coles spokesperson said. "As we work with growers and relevant authorities to contain the impact of the virus, biosecurity measures are in place that are restricting the movement of tomatoes from infected sites," the spokesperson said. The supermarkets are hoping to get more tomatoes back on the shelves soon. "We are working closely with our network of growers across Australia on product specifications and increasing our sourcing options," a Coles spokesperson said. Mr Kisvarda said he expected tomato prices to begin to come down in the coming weeks. "We should be back to normal supply by August or September," he said.
