The majority of the southern Australian long-day onion crops were all harvested by mid-May and are currently supplied out of storage with supply dwindling, according to Onions Australia’s latest reports. Prices in the domestic markets as a result are increasing which in turn is likely to translate to increased farm gate price levels not seen since 2010.

Onions Australia Chair, Kees Versteeg, said the storage quality of the southern Australian onions season was affected due to unprecedented hot weather conditions earlier in their season resulting in lesser volumes of their onions being of a good enough quality to go in to storage for supply mid-May onwards. The effects are currently being felt with dwindling supply of good quality stored onions and prices moving upwards.

“A few Queensland growers have already started harvesting small volumes of their early-season, short-day onion varieties and in a matter of weeks Queensland growers will be in full swing with the first crops expected to be on the shelves late October,” Versteeg said. “Queensland growers are doing their utmost to get their onions into the stores at the earliest opportunity.

“It is heartening that both Australia’s major supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, have given a commitment to retail only Australian-grown onions, and Onions Australia hopes that other retailers will take a similar position. It is important to remember that those who import onions in the lead up to the Australian onion season only serve to undermine Australian growers.”

Versteeg added Onions Australia had been in regular contact with the major retailers to ensure that they were aware of the supply situation, and the industry body would continue to carry out spot checks nationally to monitor imports.