Tuesday 28 June 2022 06:06 AM Aussie fruit shop boss exposes why prices are soaring at Coles and Woolworths trends now
Aussie farmers claim families can save hundreds of dollars on fresh fruit and vegetables by buying them away from major supermarkets.
As Australia's cost of living crisis continues, fresh food prices have come under the spotlight after rising above the rate of inflation.
The latest CPI figures showed the cost of fruits and vegetables grew by 6.7 per cent in the March quarter compared to a year ago, with the rate of inflation at 5.1 per cent.
Rising energy and fuel prices, the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, east coast storms and the war in Ukraine have all been blamed for the escalating cost of living.
However, anger is shifting towards Australia's supermarkets that continue to turn over billion-dollar profits.
Farmer Guy Gaeta has suggested a boycott of major supermarkets because he says they rip off consumers and farmers (Pictured, from left, Guy Gaeta with wife Simonetta and son Michael)
Independent grower Guy Gaeta (pictured with his wife Simonetta) claims families could save '50 or 60 per cent' on their fresh produce costs by shopping a Sydney Markets at Flemington instead of major supermarket chains
Prices are expected to climb even higher after the Lockyer Valley in south-east Queensland, where many winter vegetables are grown, flooded in May.
But Guy Gaeta, an apple and cherry grower from Orange, in the New South Wales Central West who sells at wholesale markets, told Daily Mail Australia supermarket prices are far higher than they need to be.
Mr Gaeta urged consumers to boycott major supermarket chains, which dominate grocery sales in Australia more than in most countries.
'The only way you teach Woolies a lesson is if don't buy your fresh fruit and vegetables there - go down the road to green grocer or come to Flemington markets.'
Mr Gaeta claimed families could save '50 or 60 per cent' on their fruit and vegetable bills by shopping at Sydney markets at Flemington.
Woolworths said it is 'always working to strike the right balance so suppliers receive a fair market price and our customers'
Coles told Daily Mail Australia its prices are determined by 'supply and demand' and that 'our team is working hard to get prices down'
'I just feel sorry for young families. I've got adult kids now, but I have grandkids and that's what worries me,' he said.
'They're making vegetables the same price or less than junk food and that's a big health problem.'
He claimed prices are often lower in wholesalers that sell to the public, or in greengrocers, on blueberries, lemons, cherries, apples, cucumbers, capsicums, ginger and lettuce.
'I can't work out how supermarkets charge $1.50 for a lemon,' Mr Gaeta said.
'Producers are selling boxes of 20kg for $20, and supermarkets are turning that into a $150 box.'
A quick scan of online prices for Lebanese cucumbers on Thursday, June 23 showed Woolworths was selling them individually for $2.14, 30 per cent more expensive than premium online fruit and vegetable supplier Fruitezy on the same day.
Mr Gaeta said what upsets farmers is the difference between what supermarkets pay them and the in-store prices.
'People think farmers are doing well. But farmers do not see the prices that supermarkets charge,' he said.
'I understand we are all trying to make money, but you don't need to rip people off.'
Another farmer, from north Queensland, who asked not to be named because he fears major supermarkets would stop buying his produce, estimated supermarkets charged '30 per cent' more than they should.
'I would say consumers should look for value, I would say go to your greengrocer independent retailers. If you look for better
