THIS year's New South Wales fruit and vegetable harvest is under significant threat, as the recent storms and a cold Spring puts growers under tremendous pressure.
Bruno Brombal, a wine grape grower and Riverina Winegrape Marketing Board chairperson, said that it was increasingly possible that the harvest wouldn't be enough this year.
"Some of the citrus growers have already planted, so it's damaged not just this year's but next year's crop as well," he said.
"There are veggie crops that are completely flattened. It's a disaster."
He said the wet ground was causing additional problems, with growers unable to get to the plants to spray them and protect them from disease and insects.
"It's a very serious situation for grape growers. It's very tense. Even hail damaged fruit, it needs to be sprayed," he said.
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Tragically, the storms have arrived days after the crops would usually be harvested however a cold stretch has put the schedule behind several weeks.
Mr Brombal estimated that the harvest was two and a half weeks behind, but said it was possible nothing would be harvestable in three weeks time.
Griffith Citrus Growers president Vito Mancini said that the damage to citrus crops would be in the millions of dollars.
"The storm was really bad, we've had a number of farmers who've lost this year's and next year's crop," he said.
"Immediately, the ones who are harvesting fruit right now have only had a few days since to recover before it all goes rotten.
"For the coming season, it's all written off. The damage will just be so severe that it can't be sold."
Despite the worrying outlook, some spirits are high.
Laurence Tovo's crops took a beating from the hail, and while most of the crop isn't fit to sell, he says he'll bounce back.
"We'll be okay, we're a resilient lot. It's a substantial hit for us and it'll mean some hard times, but we'll recover. From my point of view, it's disappointing but we'll survive," Mr Tovo said.
"You just accept it as part and parcel of farming, and look forward to the next crop."
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Cai Holroyd
Journalist for the Area News in Griffith. RMIT graduate. Full-time writer and part-time nuisance. Been described as 'present.'
Journalist for the Area News in Griffith. RMIT graduate. Full-time writer and part-time nuisance. Been described as 'present.'
