Price hikes and shortages flagged after banana crops ‘cop a flogging’ in north Queensland floods

Banana prices expected to rise in the short term, while cost of sugar should remain stable despite damage to cane crops

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Australians can expect banana shortages and price hikes as the cleanup begins in flood-ravaged north Queensland, which grows almost 94% of Australia's banana crop, growers say.

But the good news, for consumers at least, is that any banana dramas playing out on supermarket shelves over coming days will be linked to transport disruption, rather than widespread crop destruction - meaning the price and availability of one of the country's favourite fruits should soon return to normal.

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