Australia: Lettuce farmers contemplate their future

Following a tough sequence of natural disasters, Lockyer Valley lettuce farmers are in need of a multi-million-dollar relief package to prevent them from leaving the industry, the peak horticulture group has warned. Growcom is calling for a multi-million flood relief package to support agricultural communities through the next two years Growcom acting chief executive Richard Shannon said some lettuce farmers had lost their third crop in a row, risking the collapse of their business after February's floods and months of unseasonable rain. It has led to iceberg lettuce prices in major supermarkets climbing to up to $12 each, while other fresh vegetables are still retailing at high prices ...