Amid the inquiry into supermarket prices that began last year, Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud has called for an ACCC inquiry into fruit and vegetable prices, adding to his November call for a similar inquiry into supermarket meat sale prices. 

Record-breaking supermarket profits have laid the foundation for continued calls for inquiries into the industry, as billion dollar profits are received bitterly by consumers struggling with rising prices, and producers struggling at the farm gate. 

“...supermarkets are still making record profits, even though all they are doing is putting fruit and vegetables on the back of a truck and onto the supermarket shelves,” Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud said. 

“Farmers are walking away because supermarkets are taking them for a ride,” he said. 

The issue has seen reports of farmers willing to abandon fruit and vegetable crops that won’t yield high enough returns to cover their costs, and some choosing to export their produce to more profitable markets.

"I previously called for an ACCC Inquiry into beef and lamb but it must also now investigate fruit and vegetables – we need to investigate the price disparity, compel CEOs to give evidence and have greater penalties for those who do the wrong thing, including not paying farmers a fair price," Mr Littleproud said.   

In November, the call for an ACCC inquiry into meat sale prices was rejected by the government, who were in the midst of conducting a similar inquiry of the Food and Grocery code - due in mid-2024 - for the same reason. 

At the time, Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt said that an ACCC inquiry would yield similar results at no faster rate. 

This comes as a senate committee into supermarket prices is underway - having commenced in December - which will report on the price setting practices and market power of major supermarkets. 

The ongoing inquiry is the the third of its kind to examine supermarkets and cost of living issues in the last 12 months, with a final report due on 7 May, 2024.