The Australian Chicken Meat Federation said on Tuesday the “chicken supply situation continues to deteriorate daily” and more labour-intensive products like de-boned or skinless cuts and processed goods were most likely to disappear from shelves.
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“There are plenty of chickens out on farms, but just not enough people to pick them up, process them and distribute chicken products to stores,” said federation executive director Vivien Kite.
Milk has so far remained in good supply at retail outlets, but the industry has “enormous concerns” about supply shortages in coming days and weeks if trucking companies and milk processing plants don’t have enough workers to keep operations running.
“Farmers milk their cows seven days a week and they can’t store milk in a vat on farm if the tanker doesn’t come to pick it up,” said Australian Dairy Products Federation president Grant Crothers.
“Supply could deteriorate any time, it’s a factory-by-factory, shift-by-shift scenario.”
Horticulture industry representative AusVeg said perishable vegetables with a short shelf like were most likely to be missing from shelves.
“Leafy salad vegetables, broccoli, celery, cabbage and cauliflower, are at most risk of disruptions across the supply chain given the increased time that it can take for product to get from the farm to consumers,” AusVeg chief Michael Coote said.
National Farmers Federation chief executive Tony Mahar said rapid tests are “key to keeping supply chains operating”.
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“An urgent issue is the availability of tests for farmers and other critical workers, noting the eased quarantine requirements heavily rely on [rapid] testing,” Mr Mahar said.
Large supermarket chains urged shoppers to be flexible when it comes to filling their trolley, as supermarkets reduce the variety of products and brands on offer in an effort to ensure essential items continue to be stocked.
Farmers said shoppers should try their luck at independent grocers, fruit and vegetable shops, butchers and produce markets because they don’t necessarily rely on the same supply chains as major supermarkets.
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