'A tsunami of passionfruit': Growers say they will have to slash prices by HALF due to 'unusually high quantities'
- Passionfruits in oversupply after bad weather impacted growth for 18 months
- However cooler weather has meant drop in sales of passionfruit in supermarkets
- Passionfruit Australia vice-president is pleading for supermarkets to cut prices
Passionfruit growers are begging for supermarkets to slash the price of the fruit in stores after a 'tsunami' of growth.
Growers suffered poor conditions, including hail and drought, over the last 18 months, but the fruit has now bounced back - creating a 'tsunami' of passionfruit.
Jane Richter, Passionfruit Australia vice-president, said that while the cold weather has meant a drop in demand, the product is more abundant than ever.
'I understand for retailers, it's been one of those crops where they can get it one week but they can't get it the next day, I get that people are frustrated with us as an industry,' Ms Richter told the ABC.
Passionfruit Australia vice-president, Jane Richter, (pictured, left) said availability of the passionfruits over the last 18 months has been impacted by weather such as hail and drought
'But all of those [climatic] conditions have conspired, so that every single growing region has got a huge lump of fruit coming through the supply chain right now.'
Ms Richter farms in the Glass House Mountains, near the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
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She said she has been trying for weeks to alert supermarkets to the oversupply and how the two bodies can work together to sell the passionfruits.
'We need people to get out there and rediscover passionfruit, we need retailers to get behind us and do some really crazy hot specials, put them at the front of the store,' she said.
Ms Richter said that selling passionfruit for 50 cents per piece would encourage people to buy it.
She said she has been trying for weeks to alert supermarkets to the oversupply and how the two bodies can work together to sell the passionfruits (stock)
At Coles passionfruit is currently sold for $1.20 each or a pack of eight for $5.60.
Woolworths are selling them for $1 each and a packet of ten for $6.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Passionfruits Australia, Coles and Woolworths for comment.
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