Australia’s cost of living crisis in one photo: Shoppers forced to pay $40 for a kilo of green beans

Soaring prices for fresh produce have reached such heights that one Australian supermarket is charging $40 a kilogram for green beans.

Shoppers were in disbelief at a photo of green beans advertised for $39.99 a kilogram was snapped at a supermarket. 

The photo circulating on Sunday appears to be taken at Harris Farm Markets, a medium-sized grocery chain in NSW and Queensland, and was captioned: ‘I see your $6 cucumber and raise you green beans’.

A frustrated shopper shared a picture online of green beans advertised for $39.99 per kilo at their local Harris Farm supermarket (pictured)

Australians were incredulous at the insane mark up.

‘Big oof, these used to be $5 per kilogram during simpler times. Time to regurgitate my food so that I can eat it again and save on expenses,’ one user wrote.  

‘Good god are they gold encrusted!?,’ a second wrote.

‘Do you think they would last the three months if I bought them on lay-by,’ a third joked. 

Daily Mail Australia contacted Harris Farm for comment on the $39.99 green bean price despite the produce being sold for a reduced cost of $29.98 a kilogram online.

Coles has the vegetable for $10.90 a kilogram and is advertised for the same price at Woolworths – although it is out-of-stock.

The medium-sized retailer located in NSW and Queensland (pictured, Harris Farm Markets in Albury) has green beans advertised at a reduced cost of $29.98/kg online

The image was shared as a response to another users post which showed cucumbers advertised for $5.99. 

One commenter wrote: ’99 per cent water… expensive.’

‘I’m not paying $6 for a cucumber just to ignore it in the fridge until it’s a liquid,’ said another.

The green bean image is the latest example of Australia’s skyrocketing produce after a photo emerged of a head of lettuce being sold for $11.99.  

The photo was taken at the Seasons IGA Redcliffe, in Brisbane’s north, and was posted online with the headline: ‘That’s a bloody outrage, it is!’   

The price crunch on trolley staples has Australians paying more while living off stifled pay cheques as Covid-related employee shortages, recent flooding and the war in Ukraine impacted the nation’s supply chain.

The National Farmers Federation said the lettuce price was an outlier but there were wider pressures forcing up the cost of produce.

We need to remember the price of one single item is not indicative of a general trend,’ NFF chief executive Tony Mahar said.

‘While an iceberg lettuce might be $12 at a particular store, I can buy a kilo of avocados for $6 from Coles.

‘In April CPI data showed vegetable prices went up 6.6 per cent and fruit 4.9 per cent with further increases expected, and we are seeing this with some items.

‘Farmers too are facing huge increases in input costs like fuel and fertiliser but the farmgate price is only a small percentage of the final price people pay at the checkout.’ 

The price crunch on trolley staples has left Aussies paying as Covid related employee shortages, recent flooding (left) and the war in Ukraine (right)  impact the nation’s supply chain and food prices

The Consumer Price Index has the cost of fruits and vegetables up 6.7 per cent between the 2021 to 2022 March quarters with overall inflation increasing from 2.1 per cent to 5.1 per cent. 

The price of meat and seafood increased by 6.2 per cent in the past year with pantry staples such as bread, cereal, and dairy products reporting a hike of at least 3 per cent.  

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to tackle the cost of living crisis by pushing for wage rises and improving productivity.