At least a third of Western Australia’s stonefruit crop, worth more than £8 million (£3.4m) has been decimated by poor weather conditions, leading to speculation that prices will rise and shortages will be incurred.
A warm winter followed by a wet, cool spring has slashed production, particularly in the Perth Hills, while hailstorms a fortnight ago damaged stonefruit throughout the growing area stretching from Gingin in the north to Albany in the south.
Manjimup was hardest hit, with the department of agriculture and food estimating that 30 per cent of the region’s plum crop was destroyed.
WA Fruit Growers’ Association summer fruit chairman Mark Wilkinson said a lack of winter chill and spring sunshine had drastically reduced fruit set. Late-season varieties were most affected and shortages could occur after February.
But Wilkinson said significant price rises were unlikely given the loss of export markets for the fruit, which would prevent major domestic shortages.
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