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Vegetable prices to rise in growers' water crisis
18 Nov 2003
Soaring vegetable prices and shortages are likely unless Werribee market gardeners receive emergency water supplies. Just a week ago they were banned from using bore water - then the hot weather set in, with the temperature reaching 39.1C on November 15. Dozens of growers say they lost critical Christmas crops worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Werribee growers supply virtually all of Australia's lettuces at this time of year, as well as 75 per cent of the nation's cauliflowers, broccoli and cabbages. Four water authorities will meet with the minister, John Thwaites, today to consider the growers' call for urgent access to alternative water reserves. Southern Rural Water says the most likely solution is to transport recycled water from the Western Treatment Plant.
Herald Sun, 18/11/03, page 8.
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