Yesterday it started, food price thefts as are result of the floods.
I bought 9 peaces for $9.40 big price sign easy to read.
Then 9 nectarines no price on display,thought about the same.
at the pay station it turned out to be about $2.20each.$14 a kg
You know the fruit,not yet ripe just out of the cool room, may have been in there for a year.
We are about to pay very high prices for fruit and vegs.
And quite often those prices will be fraudulent.
For a week, just one, monitor what it says on the label and what you pay,count your change, in the week it will teach you a truth.
Buyer be aware is very much good advice.

I hope you said no thanks and left them at the shop.

I know that fruit is good for you but you can go without for a few weeks. We survived the banana fiasco years ago. Fruit does come in other forms as well as fresh.

I did leave them, on the counter after lining up paying my bill walked out sat down and read.
Then took them back demanded a refund.
Was able to prove no price on display, and questioned the honesty involved others seemed to agree.
We will however pay much more and for a year at least, crops do not grow over night.
I eat a lot of fruit, my own in season but not now.
The point to the story is the fraud like extra costs ,something not affected by floods properly in cold storage much before.
However know please,during the last oil price surge, the next and the one after,massive price rises see oil already in the storage tank rise[illegally] too.
Some unaware shoppers can be shafted for a great deal .
I got my nectarines today, slight damage due to floods $6.40 a kg.
If you wish to kill your pet dog go and pay $6.00 for a pack of fat called bones at those two big shops.
If you love them, buy chicken necks for $3.20 a kg.
Trust me it pays to be aware.

Belly:

I've just paid $7.00 for a punnet of strawberries, and $4.00 each for two mangoes. However, I am expecting the prices to go up. The fruit was for my mother-in-law, who's in a nursing home. I bring her fruit every time I visit - (she really looks forward to it). And high prices or not, I'll keep on buying it for her.

Good one Lexi I had that job for months with my mum and she got her favorites no matter the price.
We know it will get worse my concern is some will use the crisis to thieve from us.

Yesterday the big supermarket chains lowered the price of milk!was this to try and justify the price hike on fruit and vegitables we are now seeing and which will keep increasing. It is a known fact that a lot of our fruit and vegitables are imported from overseas so where is the justice in the price increases now. They are cashing in on the floods at the exspence of the consumer

....I am a fruit lover too Belly!

I leave $50.00 out of the grocery money to purchase fruit and veg at the actual fruit and veg markets or places, travelling further when necessary which lasts 7 days. Most months I give W's and C's the flick fruit and veg wise as I used to encounter the same problem as you described.

Remember when the little Johnny 'Jonathon' apples were available/grown, fresh, sweet and crunchy? I dearly miss those in my diet and could live on those johnnies alone.

Its interesting you raised blackberries on another thread Belly, I was chatting to my daughter tonight about going blackberry picking down an old dirt track in the region to bake some pies and freeze them for winter for people - co-incidental Belly! The kids have never been fruit 'goers' like me despite encouraging them daily through the primary school years. They must take after their father in that respect.

I graphically pictured you paying for that fruit and returning it, which has made me laugh so much given I can relate to the problem having done that myself on a few occasions LOL.........I love your stories so much Belly

Hi Gypsy, there was a complaint on the radio/news this morning from VIC Dairy owners strongly and rightfully opposing the drop in milk prices enforced.

I feel for the dairy farmers [my aunty owned one for 40 years and worked it on her own until she was in her late 60's] then the Victorian government forced many of the dairy owners out of business.

Finally the drought was broken, next arrived the floods, now price cuts to their income. What next? Force the remaining dairy owners out by giving away their milk?

However, I feel the cheese prices could be lowered, as there are enough companies selling their produce on the W's and C's shelves.

We are lucky here in the West Belly. I paid $3.99 kg for peaches and nectarines in the shops today.

We were told that the prices for stone fruit should not be affected because they are a south-western grown fruit, and this area has not been affected by floods.

I assume stone fruit is not grown much in Queensland? Naturally, because mangoes and bananas are grown in flood affected Queensland and Carnarvon, we should expect less supplies and more expense for these fruits?

As a kid I lived in many rented country houses,
One we are unique will know was very much a village then Welby.
In the southern highlands, it had an orchard, boy did it, plums of every type and much more.
It was hungry country we suffered there.
But I took a dream with me, little fat 8 year old, I would have fruit trees in the home I would one day own.
Got there, May 2002 bought my home first and only one.
oranges pear plums apple mandarins lemon and a pomegranate, oh yes nectarine too.
Kids get most, others kids but that is why I grew it.
fruit however is a minor part of my threads intentions.more to come.

I have shopped for my family , for 40 years.
Watching other men wander around the super markets trying to look like they are not there is fun.
But they should take an interest.
Those economy size money saving specials can cost more than buying two of the smaller packs.
Chains run department heads, those heads are judged on profits/sales and care little for other than getting them.
A super chain store runs car repairs,has a target for turnover pushed harshly, I have taken a company car there for redgo check.
A week after a massive rebuild.
[car had been serviced 200klm away]. I was asked to send a redgo thing that day.
I was told the car needs? shocks and break pads,[both had been replaced]

Belly,

There's dishonest people everywhere and of course you're right - we should question things if we suspect that we're being ripped off.
As far as fruit goes - I usually go to the same green grocer (who I trust) however, he's currently still on holidays - so it will be interesting to see what happens to his prices when he comes back. However having said that, I feel that we're lucky in this country with the choices we do have with our meat, fruit, vegetables, and so on. I suppose we should count our blessings.

Well yes, we can expect problems with fruit and vege supplies,
due to all the bad weather around the country.

I'm just one of these old fashioned types, who looks around what
is on special.

This week at Coles here:

Plums 2.98 a kg
grapes 3.48 a kg
avocadoes 2 for 3 bucks,
sweetcorn 2.70 a pack.

So that is what I will be buying.

Otherwise there is some great value canned fruit available.

So its up to consumers really. Perhaps we have been spoiled for
far too long.

True Lexi but it is about 30 ks each way to my shops,and at tourist time? inflation!
Got my nectarines today, yes again WAU! 3.20 at one of the big ones.
Now that word inflation, up the thread,no one does not know our prices rise fast,during tourist times.
We should ask why, and even counting your change at such times can save a motza.

Belly,

I understand what you're saying. But you know what? - not so long ago we had that huge American discount warehouse, "CostCo," open up in Melbourne's Harbour City (Docklands) and people came from as far away as Adelaide to shop here. I couldn't understand all the fuss because you had to buy a membership and buy in bulk. And things were not that cheap anyway. But, I guess some people felt it was worth the trip. My husband has been there several times to have a look and he says it's not worth the trouble.

Am enjoying your stories, views and experiences Belly and OLOers.

I am what I am a stick in the mud,avoid shops that do away with trolley retrievers/jobs.
But went into one,the newest it was cheap but , well bought a big bag filled it and packed it on the way out.
Cheap but some of the product was too, so back to the big two for me.
Wish I could remember a book I read about 40 years ago.
It was about cash register fraud,focused on Cony Island in America.
But every one should read it.
The nicest person may be the one making the most from theft.
While you are swapping yarns and laughing a quick choice can be made,are you watching?
Quick change of 20 not the fifty you gave and put your change away without ever knowing.
IF you notice, please sir I an sooo sorry I made anhonest mistake and you never know.
It happens.

Farmers market yesterday,just a short dash up the road.
Right there in front of me lines of day Lily's,I had paid ten dollars for them at the big tin shed.
4 dollars each! loaded them up spent too much but garden will love it.
As you do at village markets made friends quick with sellers, they sell to the big shed! for less than the money I paid!
Staying home today market day over on the coast but I have a days work planting.

Hi there belly, your old mate rehctub, back from the dead. Just had a break.

Now, to your toppic.

There are simply two things that control prices on most everything, 'supply and demand', and that's about it.

Also, stone fruit are not stored for a year or more, that's why you only see them when they are in season. You are confusing them with apples, which are stored for up to a year or more.

Now as for the price not being displayed, well, that was wrong of the retailer and you were well within your rights to seek a refund, however, please spare a thought for the amount of stress these retailers have gone though and the effort they have put in just to get fruit on the shelves.

These guys spend millions on marketing campaign each year and to not have product simply underminds all that effort, as often they loose other sales as well simply because they are out of a basic product.

Now we all remember when workers were being paid 'over the top rates' to finnish certain projects simply due to supply and demand deficiencies!

Little difference.

Well come back rechtub.
I do know a bit about fruit and veg,carted them to markets got to see the wast and understand the over heads.
Take you on about fruit,more than apples spend time in cold storage, mine did very much so, like other perishables it is a must to cut wast.
Been a while from post one but to tell you the truth have bought three more bags since then.
Yesterday at the local fruit markets $3.20 for nectarines and plumbs same price.
Remember we spoke about my youth and work on the bone truck.
Saw some real shonky butchers what they put in snags.
It happens.
Butchers snags are best not the big two but once bought big on once of special.
that after noon found even bone in them.
so be aware not blind .