BENDIGO families may struggle to pay for food if prices rise after devastating bushfires in East Gippsland and NSW.
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The city's support services have warned that families may also be pushed into eating cheaper unhealthy food if the price of fresh food increases.
Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie said fresh food prices would rise as a consequence of the fires. Ms McKenzie said Australians would pay more for red meat, fruit, vegetables and milk.
Industry body AusVeg said supply issues could cause a short term price increase for some products, at the moment leafy greens, broccoli and some root vegetables.
Spokesperson Shaun Lindhe said AusVeg had seen logistical issues getting supplies off farms, with roads closed and power outages.
But many buyers could mitigate these issues by sourcing produce from other areas, he said.
Bendigo Foodshare chair Cathie Steele said food was a discretionary item, meaning if prices went up people had to buy less or cheaper food.
Ms Steele said people on low incomes, often single parents, women with children, refugees or those on Centrelink, were affected the most.
"Phone is fixed these days, electricity, gas, rental. They're not [costs] you can change," Ms Steele said.
"So what happens is food gives. So if prices go up, you buy less food or cheap food."
Bendigo Salvation Army Major Andrew Walker said any increase in costs put pressure on families with very low or fixed income.
Mr Walker said families and pensioners, especially single pensioners, were affected most.
He said a potential danger with a price rise would be that fresh food getting more expensive, becoming a barrier to families eating healthily.
Mr Walker said rising price for fresh food could steer people to unhealthy options.
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