Extra-virgin olive oil producers fear that a native sap-sucking insect may place added pressure on the industry already impacted by rising labour costs and climate change.
Whether produced in Australia or imported from abroad, extra-virgin olive oil has joined the long list of pantry items whose prices have soared since the COVID-19 pandemic. Poor crop yields locally and abroad , climate change and increasing labour costs have driven up the price of the supermarket item, which is being sold for as much as $70 for a three-litre tin or $25 for a 750ml bottle.
" But how has this insect – measuring two to three mm long and as thick as a house key – travelled hundreds of kilometres? "Adults can fly and move from one orchard to another, but the more likely spread is through workers or machinery," Utter explained. "So, farm biosecurity is crucial, making sure if you've got a harvester coming to your property that it is clean.
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