Supermarket Staple Faces Supply Crisis After Australian Weather Disaster
British shoppers are about to encounter empty shelves and soaring prices for capsicums as extreme weather events in Australia devastate supplies. The popular vegetable has become the latest fresh produce item to face significant shortages in 2025.
Major supermarkets including Coles have begun displaying notices warning customers about limited availability of yellow and green capsicums. One sign spotted in a Sydney store read: 'Due to extreme weather in the growing regions, there may be limited availability of yellow and green capsicums.'
Price Surges and Stock Limitations
Current pricing at Coles reflects the growing scarcity, with green capsicums priced at $8.90 per kilo, red capsicums at $10.90 per kilo, and yellow capsicums commanding $12.90 per kilo. The situation appears even more dire at Woolworths, where their online shopping site lists red capsicums as completely 'out of stock'.
For green capsicums, Woolworths indicates they're only available to purchase 'in store only', removing the online shopping option entirely. Meanwhile, at Harris Farm grocery chain, while supplies remain available, prices have skyrocketed well above normal levels.
The green variety now costs $12.99 per kilo, yellow sits at $15.99 per kilo, and red capsicums have become the most expensive at $17.99 per kilo.
Root Cause: Queensland Weather Catastrophe
Anthony Parisi of wholesale produce supplier Parisi Australia explained the severity of the situation to Daily Mail. 'Around 90 per cent of Australia's capsicum supply at this time of year would normally come from this region - it's their peak season,' he revealed.
The head of relations detailed how this year's crops in Queensland's Bundaberg region were completely ruined by heavy rain and hail damage. 'When that happens, all the fruit is damaged and starts to rot because of the water,' Parisi continued. 'It then can't be sold, meaning there's no product arriving at market. And that's what's caused the shortage.'
Although Coles notices specifically mention yellow and green capsicums, Parisi confirmed there's reduced availability across all colours. He explained that red, yellow and green capsicums generally represent the same fruit at different stages of maturity, with sweetness and nutritional value increasing as they progress from green to yellow to red.
Broader Impact and Recovery Timeline
The weather damage has extended beyond standard capsicums to affect other produce. Parisi noted that bullhorn peppers and various chillies, including long red chilli and bird's eye chillies, have also suffered supply impacts. 'Where they are available, prices have gone ballistic,' he observed.
Parisi predicts the capsicum shortage could persist for three to four weeks until supplies from South Australia come onto the market. However, he cautioned that initial volumes will be very limited as it marks the beginning of their season.
'With any produce item, it's a matter of supply and demand,' Parisi explained. 'We only hit those very high prices for fruit or vegetables when it's out of season, when low volumes are being imported, or after a catastrophic weather event - like what happened in Queensland.'
This capsicum crisis follows other fruit and vegetable supply issues affecting consumers in 2025, including shortages of sweet potatoes, strawberries, blueberries, spring onions, and broccoli - all resulting from adverse weather conditions across growing regions.
