NEEDLES found in strawberries across the nation have hit the industry hard, just ask Super Strawberry owner Cecily Tarrant.
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The grower began her business in Glen Innes 47 years ago and has never seen a fruit contamination crisis on this scale.
“I was fairly au fait with risk management over the years, if grubs got in I had a plan of attack but this one is completely left of field for me,” she said.
“It’s been so destructive to the market it’s just unbelievable.”
A team of 100 police officers has been tasked with finding the culprit, after needles were found in strawberries across the country.
New England police have issued a warning to fruit lovers after contaminated strawberries were seized from Guyra and Inverell over the weekend.
The Super Strawberry pulled out of the Coles and Woolworths market nearly 35 years earlier and run their business as more of a tourist destination.
Even so, they’ve had to remove their fruit from public access to eliminate the risk of needle contamination by tourists passing by.
The environmental packaging Ms Tarrant just purchased won’t be able to be displayed because access to the fruit is too easy.
“It’s just shocking, those poor growers up there [QLD] – we’re going to order extra because we buy in,” Ms Tarrant said.
“They’re established growers we’ve dealt with for many years and the same agent in the market for 25 and we’re more than happy it will be secure.
“When you’re dealing with the craziest people you could think of there’s no guarantees – but if you cut them up they’re fine.”
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Growers who organise labour for backpackers have had to spray out their strawberries which lie dead in rows, and the Department of Agriculture implemented interim measures forcing growers to put fruit through metal detectors or X-ray prior to export.
Bananas and apples have also reportedly been struck with contamination, although police are arguing these are isolated incidents.
Ms Tarrant believes it must be more than one perpetrator. Her supply and freighting system goes all the way from Brisbane down the coast and back, but doesn’t deliver to South Australia.
“I’d say this is now a lot of copycat incidents and everyone is open to it,” she said.
“I’ve had discussions with local police and they’re aware of what’s happening.
“I’m certainly doing as much as I can but it’s so insidious, it’s all over the place and it will be hard to find the culprit because I believe there’s more than one now.”
New Zealand also announced it will pull Aussie-grown berries from its supermarket shelves.
A health warning to throw out or cut up strawberries has been issued in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
