By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
Following four days of intense rainfall, farmers in south east Queensland have faced the loss of millions of dollars' worth of strawberry crops. Taste 'n' See Strawberries, located in Bellmere near Caboolture, has documented the extensive damage to their family farms through photographs. They reported that four semi trailers and two skip bins of waterlogged strawberries were given away to other farmers to feed their livestock for free.
Laura Wells, co owner of the farm, estimated the loss of around 216,000 punnets of strawberries. These 350 gram punnets were destined for sale directly to Coles. The losses come during a crucial time when farmers are usually recovering the costs associated with setting up their production systems for the winter spring season.
Wells expressed a positive outlook despite the situation, estimating that about 98% of their crop has been damaged. "The sun’s shining today, and that’s what we need to focus on,” she said. She emphasized their commitment to the land and customers, focusing on the belief in better days ahead despite the significant crop loss. However, two blocks of their land have been abandoned for the remaining eight weeks of the season.
Planning for such events is part of the farm’s business strategy, Wells explained, noting that they always work on a seven year average. Sorting and grading second grade fruit is not viable on such a large scale due to the costs it would add to the already expensive production process. "In the face of catastrophic events, we prioritize the best financial outcomes for survival," she stated.
The president of Queensland Strawberry Growers, Adrian Schultz, noted the difficulty in predicting the rain's impact on retail prices or the total extent of the damage. "A lot of second-grade fruit enters the market, which can drive prices down," he said. With the uncertain availability of good-quality fruit, prices for premium products might increase.
In response to the situation, produce shops and pick your own farms are offering second grade fruit for jams and smoothies. Schultz noted that jam makers will likely be busy in the coming weeks. At Noosaville, Gary Norris, known as 'The Mango Man,' has been selling second grade strawberries from a small farm operated by a husband and wife. He expressed concern about the financial strain on farmers, saying, "This week's rain event has cost my strawberry grower over $100,000."
The impact of the rainfall extends beyond strawberries, affecting raspberries, blueberries, and lettuce in the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast regions. Rohan Watson, owner of Rural Earthworms, is working with a large packing shed to manage the significant waste by feeding it to worms. "Even I can't handle all of what they waste; it's pretty huge numbers," he said.
Despite the challenges, Wells remains optimistic. "I'm thankful we've got very full dams, and we're going to have some beautiful grass under those tables over the next couple of weeks," she said, focusing on the positive aspects and the prospects of recovery.
