Tamworth seafood: Christmas rush at local grocers as customers reap rewards of China trade tensions

The checkouts at Farmer Bob's Fruit Market and Kays Meats have already started to ring up more customers than usual buying festive fare.

Seafood spreads can be expected on a few tables this Christmas with a combined 1350 dozen oysters, more than 800 kilograms of fresh prawns and plenty of lobsters about to hit shelves.

It's the first year Farmer Bob's have supplied seafood, owner Brendon North said.

"At the moment a lot of families are out planning, sampling things for their Christmas menu like marinades, sauces and dressings," he said.

"I've ordered seafood from the South Coast but the rest comes out of the Sydney fish markets.

"It's the first time we've done Seafood and that's a real winner - it's probably about what I thought, I didn't envisage what it would be."

As Christmas fast-approaches, Farmer's Bob's will open earlier in the morning and close later on Thursday night to give last-minute shoppers time to grab finishing touches.

All the staff hours have been extended, Mr North said, and shoppers have been on their best behaviour.

"Traditionally I find people are really patient and understanding at Christmas," he said.

"Rarely do we have problems, people are in the festive spirit and while we have longer and bigger queues we put on extra staff and do our best."

A silver-lining of China's ban on live Australian lobster imports is that seafood prices locally have dropped.

Australian commercial fishers have reportedly supplied record volumes of rock lobster to the domestic market.

It's been just as busy at Kays Meats, but general manager Nathaniel Wall decided to close for Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year to give staff a well-earned break.

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"Our volume has significantly increased for the month of December, not only do you have Christmas but a lot of Christmas functions and parties so a bit of preparation goes into ordering stock for the month," he said.

Christmas hams and Quast Turkeys have been hugely popular with customers at Kays Meats, along with pork loins, legs, lamb and steak.

The seafood is limited and even with 800kg of fresh prawns and 500 dozen oysters, Mr Wall said he's still worried it might not be enough.

"We're concerned we won't have enough but it is hard to forecast what's going to sell," he said.

"Based on Easter and last Christmas the demand for seafood just keeps growing."