Fresh food prices are tipped to skyrocket over the next couple of months as we feel the full effects of cyclone Yasi and the Queensland floods. You’ll be paying more for favourite fruit and veg like bananas, mangoes, pineapples, capsicums, broccoli and sweet potatoes.

Westpac predicts fruit prices will leap 60 per cent this quarter and vegetable prices will rise 10 per cent. It’s going to be a tough couple of months if you have banana addicts in the house. Westpac is tipping wholesale banana prices will surge a whopping 300 per cent this quarter after Yasi virtually wiped out our national supply. Before the cyclone struck bananas were going for $3 a kilo. Some experts are saying they may reach the $17 a kilo we saw after Cyclone Larry in 2006.

It’s going to be tough to stick to the weekly food budget the next couple of months, especially if you have a mob of hungry fruit eating kids. You need to shop smart and change your eating habits if you want to control your grocery bill.

Chase low prices

Shop around for the best deal on fruit and veg and save. Go online and look at what prices the big supermarket chains are advertising on their websites and visit your local green grocers to see how they compare. If you choose to shop at your local supermarket research shows you can save up to 20 per cent on your bill by shopping on a Friday. Supermarkets get lots of fresh food in for the weekend and offer the best specials of the week.

Change your habits

Start liking fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season and in stock. Instead of buying bananas get pears, choose grapes not mangoes, and swap sweet potatoes for regular ones. You may wish you had your first preference, but you’ll survive till prices drop. Plan your meals and school lunches so you only buy exactly what you need. You don’t want to pay an inflated price for broccoli and then have it go off before you find a chance to use it.

Go frozen

Frozen fruit and vegetables are a great alternative if you can’t afford them fresh. Many experts say they’re just as good for you. Fruit and veggies destined for freezing are processed at their ripest, which is when they contain the most nutrients. Food that’s shipped to us fresh is picked before it’s ripe, giving it less time to develop vitamins.

Start a co-op

Now is a great time to start a fresh food coop with a group of neighbours, family or friends. When you buy in bulk you have greater bargaining power and get the best prices. Find a green grocer that offers discounts for large orders and get organised.

Grow your own

You don’t have to be Jamie Durie to look after a simple veggie patch or a few orange or lime trees. Start growing your own fruit and vegetables now and protect your family from future fresh food shortages.