Small-scale grocers are calling for an immediate cap on fresh fruit and vegetable prices in supermarkets as costs continue to soar.
Small-scale grocers are calling for an immediate cap on fresh fruit and vegetable prices in supermarkets as the cost continues to soar.Major retailers warn it will be many weeks before fruit and vegetable prices lowerMonique Lunn runs a fresh produce store at her family's mushroom farm in Ballarat, Victoria, and said they were running at a loss to ensure people were not priced out of feeding their families healthy food.
"Unfortunately in Victoria during winter we have to source products from Queensland, which has been hit with floods, because we just don't have the temperature to produce the volume for our population."Ms Lunn said selling on high-demand produce at cost was an ethical short-term measure until the supply caught up with demand."But now the lettuce has gone up again so what I found was a lot of my customers have switched to buying cos lettuce.
"Cos lettuce is a slightly cheaper option for people if they're finding that iceberg is getting too expensive and we sell twin packs of cos lettuce for $4."Woolworths announced a price freeze on some "essential items" this week, such as pasta, bacon and frozen peas. Ms Lunn said if supermarkets were not willing to make similar sacrifices on their profit margins for fresh produce, the federal government should intervene, similar to how"I think there could be some sort of capping, especially at times like this," she said.
"People want to eat healthy, but let's face it, it's cheaper for a family that's struggling to pay the bills to go and buy a $5 frozen pizza and feed that to their kids."Ballarat Mushroom Farm converted to a fresh produce store when farmers' markets were banned in Victoria during COVID restrictions.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
An early win for Albanese, not so flash for small bizOPINION: From a sheer political perspective, the Fair Work Commission has delivered the Albanese government a win. The PM can say that he has delivered for the workers.
Read more »
Albanese's message to small businesses amid concerns of wage increasePrime Minister Anthony Albanese has told concerned small business owners the minimum wage increase will help support their employees who are 'really struggling' amid pressures of the rising cost of living affecting the lowest paid workers in Australia.
Read more »
'The danger is real': Academics call on government to protect Myanmar studentsMyanmar scholarship recipients must return home on completion of their studies in Australia, but senior academics say there is a risk they could be tortured if sent back.
Read more »
Gold Coast's 'idiotic' beach bar call opens Pandora's box, critics sayThe council's decision to allow Kurrawa Beach Club to operate on a trial basis over the next three years has been slammed by opponents who fear there may be more venues to come.
Read more »
Albanese responds to China's 'concrete action' call to mend relationshipPrime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared China will need to make at least one big move before his government would consider improving the relations between Canberra and Beijing.
Read more »
‘No alternative’: Greens MPs call for the party’s Victorian convener to resignNewly elected convener Linda Gale co-authored a 2019 document described as ‘inconsistent with Greens values’
Read more »