Would you consider adding extra items to the Christmas food shopping list to help Aussie farmers?
A year plagued by floods, fires and droughts has left some farmers reeling from losses to both their crops and their livelihoods.
But other farmers, who have had a good season, might also stand to lose something this year, especially if they are part of an industry experiencing a "glut".
From pineapples to red wine, those farmers have seen prices drop and fear produce will be left to rot unless consumers get on board this Christmas.
Pineapples
The majority of the country's pineapples are grown in Queensland, but an unusually cold winter has spelled trouble for the industry.
Mass flowering across the state means there will now be an excess supply of pineapples over the summer.
North Queensland pineapple grower John Zelenka was anxious about the Christmas period.
"We had five very cold days in winter, and the planets aligned and this happened," Mr Zelenka said.
"Everyone seems to be in the same situation."
He said most of the state's pineapples would be hitting the market over the summer, as plants that should be flowering mid-year have now flowered early.
"So the problem will be the bulk of Queensland's portable crop is all going to come on over two or three months," he said.
Mr Zelenka said he was unsure of what to do with the excess fruit, most of which he supplies locally.
"It'll require a bit of ingenuity, I think," he said.
He said the industry was calling on consumers to add it to their Christmas tables.
"A pineapple is very versatile, you can have it with your fruit salad, you can have it as a dessert, you can have it with your main meal," Mr Zelenka said.
Red wine
South Australia's red wine sector has been experiencing an ongoing glut, with tariffs imposed by China one of the key factors driving the oversupply.
Mitchell Taylor is the managing director of Taylors wines, a family-owned winery located in the Clare Valley in South Australia.
He said he was anticipating another tough year.
"I think this vintage coming up, vintage 2023 in the new year, will really see some big pressures," Mr Taylor said.
"I think we'll probably have to leave a lot of fruit out on the vineyard for this season.
"It's financially a big strain on a lot of the growers."
He said this Christmas the industry was relying on Australians to enjoy a glass of red wine with their ham or seafood platter, and the decision to buy from Australian producers would make all the difference.
"The sector does need compassion and support as we work our way through these difficult times," he said.
"The domestic market is our biggest market.
"So supporting our local producers would be really beneficial for everyone."
Avocados
The avocado industry is also on the verge of another big crop, with the country's supply anticipated to hit 170,000 tonnes by 2026, more than double the 80,000 tonnes produced in 2021.
In just the last 12 months, the number of avocados being produced increased by 50 per cent and 2023 looks set to be another bumper year when peak production hits between April and December.
Sarah Tucker-Boehm, who grows produce in South Australia's Riverland, said for now the avocado glut had eased slightly.
"Thankfully the market is better because there's not quite the same influx," Ms Tucker-Boehm said.
But she still hoped more people would stuff avocados in their Christmas stockings or serve them in salads this festive season.
"Avocados are looking great for Christmas, so that's exciting," she said.
"Riverland Hass will still be in season, and then WA Hass will also be in the market."
Ms Tucker-Boehm said people looking for something different should try Lamb Hass and Reed avocados, which would hit the shelves soon.
"Reed has a bit of cult following — it's a big, round, emu egg looking avocado," she said.
"While the Lamb Hass almost looks identical to Hass, except it's slightly bigger and has what I call shoulders, near where the stem goes."
