Farm worker shortage could mean more expensive, lower quality fruit and vegetables this summer

Australians are being warned they could be paying a lot more at the checkout for their fruit and vegetables this summer, and possibly taking home a lower-quality product.

Premium fresh vegetables are being fed to livestock on some West Australian farms because the horticulture sector cannot find enough staff to pick, grade and pack its produce.

The worker shortage has already resulted in less fruit and vegetables being harvested across the state’s key food bowl regions.

Fruitico, the state’s largest table grape…