In Sydney's food mecca, Chinatown, menu prices have gone up between 20% and 30% since the start of the pandemic. The east coast floods in Australia between March and July added to the disruptions from the pandemic, as they destroyed crops and pushed up prices of food in Australia further. For instance, the price of lettuce shot up to A$12 (about $8) in June and increased four-fold from the usual price of about $2.90.
While prices have since returned to normal at major supermarkets, the cost of lettuce has been volatile since the pandemic started. Prices surged as much as 350%, before coming down and then rising again, data from Australia's agriculture department showed.
Cnbc.com reports that, in Australia, food prices are rising at one of the fastest rates among consumer goods. Prices of fruit and vegetables rose 18.6% in August compared to a year ago, according to the latest update by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Like many countries, Australia is battling record-high cost-of-living. Annual inflation in August surged to 6.8% from just under 2% before the pandemic. Back then, food inflation was also lower, at about 1.3%.
Australia’s best-value fresh produce for October
Asparagus is spearheading October’s best produce. Cheap and plentiful, it is selling for $2.50 or $3 a bunch in supermarkets as we greet the second month of spring. Leafy green staples are in good supply as well.
Complementing the salad greens, there’s also plenty of color coming to retail shelves. Retailers also recommend zucchini, broccoli, cabbage and tomato, with smaller varieties such as cherry tomatoes on the way once the warmer months hit.
Source: theguardian.com