Expect to pay more for your citrus fruit this season, as labour shortage slows harvest

A trip to the supermarket for mandarins and oranges is likely to hurt the hip pocket this winter, as citrus growers continue to bear the brunt of labour shortages and the high quarantine costs of Pacific Island workers.

Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock expects the seasonal workers shortage to worsen in winter as the industry hits peak harvest.

Mr Hancock said while governments had established quarantine programs for Pacific Island workers,…