"It’s going to have a huge impact on dairy, potatoes, tomatoes, rice and corn," he said. "People saw what happened when Queensland lost its banana crop with Cyclone Larry … well, we’re now looking at widespread shortages and price rises for a whole range [of produce]."
The NSW Greens have demanded the Government warn households to prepare for a lean winter and spring. The predicted zero water allocation would place at risk table grapes, apples, pears, stone fruit, lemons, mandarins, grapefruit, tomatoes, lettuce, salad vegetables and dairy, the Greens’ Consumer Affairs spokesman, Dr John Kaye, said.
"Warning households of impending price rises will help people prepare budgets and make financial provisions for rising food prices," he said.
Meanwhile, the NSW Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries has warned that heavy rain in North Queensland is threatening tomato and green leafy vegetable supply.
"If this rain doesn’t stop, the price of tomatoes will go through the roof," the chamber’s chief executive, Colin Gray, said. But while prices might soar, Sydney would be relatively well off, he said, because of easy access to imported produce.