As green vegetable prices spike, data shows some manufactured goods remain stable

The fact that food prices in Australia have soared this year is not new news for most people.

Key points:

• Deakin University research shows lettuce, broccoli and tomato prices have soared
• Amid other cost of living pressures, more people are seeking help with food costs
• There are calls for a national strategy to ensure Australians can access healthy food

But tracking data for 28 specific grocery items over the past few years shows which product prices have gone up the most, which have fallen and which have remained stable.

Figures from Deakin University’s Institute of Health Transformation support the most eye-catching increase – the skyrocketing price of lettuce.

Data shows lettuce has jumped 150 percent in 12 months, up from the national average of $2 per head for icebergs last year to $5 in 2022.

All kinds of leafy greens have disappeared from store aisles in recent months, including broccoli, which had the second biggest jump.

It jumped from $6.90 per kilo in June last year to $11.90 in June this year – up 72 percent.

Tomatoes experienced the third biggest jump, increasing 25 percent more over the same time period.

Not surprisingly, the price of iceberg lettuce doubled between June 2020 and June 2022.(ABC News: Bec Whetham)

Deakin University researcher Christina Zorbas says most costs are generally higher, meaning higher grocery bills even if you avoid lettuce, broccoli and tomatoes.

“We’re actually calling this a food price crisis,” said Dr Zorbas.

“On average, fruit and vegetable prices rose 7 percent.”

“Other foods, the core foods we eat daily such as bread, also rose 10 percent.”

He said other staples also increased, with spaghetti increasing 13 percent, potatoes 12 percent and dairy 9 percent.

Type of food	Price June 2020	Price June 2022	Switch 24 months
Iceberg lettuce (per head)	$2.50	$5.00	+100 pieces
Broccoli (per kg)	$5.90	$11.90	+101.69pc
Tomatoes (per kg)	$6.90	$9.90	+43.48 pieces
Olive Oil (1L)	$12	$16	+33.33 pieces
Apples (per kg)	$5.50	$4.50	-18.8 pieces
Oranges (per kg)	$3.50	$3.22	-7.94 pieces

“This is a huge shock to the system,” said Dr Zorbas.

“We have been monitoring prices for five years and have not changed until 2021/22.”

The impact of flooding on Australia’s east coast and global fuel prices is already evident, but researchers say prices are projected to climb even higher.

Calls for a national plan to tap into Australia’s fresh produce supply

Sandra Demaio is the chief executive of VicHealth, a state government health promotion organization.

He said a national plan for food was needed to help avoid long-term and widespread health problems.

Sandro Demaio said the national strategy would lead to better long-term health outcomes.(Provided: VicHealth)

“We don’t have a food strategy for the country based on nutrition and health,” he said.

Dr Demaio said VicHealth had noted a huge increase in the number of people who never had trouble putting food on the table but are now struggling, and an increase in people eating less healthy, but cheaper processed foods.

“We know a poor diet is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers,” he said.

“We are a major producer of fresh food. We produce far more food than we consume.”

“I think it’s about the government working with the private sector and community leaders to see practical action.”

Apples are among the few items that have seen a decline in price.(ABC News: Rachel Pupazzoni)

Dr Zorbas said the institute was also encouraging the federal government to enact practical food policies.

“The first thing to do is upgrade JobSeeker [payments] and the level of government revenue support,” he said.

“You can also do it through subsidies for food, you can do it through taxes, or arrange special ways of giving certain food groups.”

The ABC asked the federal government about a national plan for food affordability, but did not receive a response before the deadline.

As the price of leafy vegetables soared, other fruits and vegetables became cheaper

As some are calling for long-term changes to managing Australians’ access to fresh produce, meanwhile, some goods have remained fairly stable in price, or even declined.

Both bananas and oranges were cheaper compared to last year, down 28 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

Canned bean mixes are also 5 percent cheaper.

No changes in sweet corn prices were detected.(ABC Countryside: Charlie McKillop)

Apples are about $4.50 per kilogram, the same as in 2021, but selling for $5.50 in 2020.

Prices for carrots, eggs, shallots, and sweet corn nationally were generally stable.

In the short term, Dr DeMaio encourages shoppers to be smart, while still paying attention to nutrition.

“Frozen foods are very healthy,” he says.

“They are a great inexpensive way to incorporate more vegetables into our lives.

“See what’s in season and maybe shop at a small grocer, which can often be a bit cheaper.

“The main thing is not to judge or blame people. We have to work together.”

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