"BACKYARD" mango growers are putting the livelihoods of commercial growers at risk by flooding the market with ridiculously cheap fruit.
Far North Queensland is experiencing its traditional post-Christmas spike in production, cairns.com.au reports.
However, growers fear far too many hobby farmers, who are selling their crops in roadside stalls, are driving prices too low for them to make any profit.
Some mangoes are reportedly being sold by the side of the road for as little as 50c each.
The Australian Mango Industry Association claims this has led to some growers allowing their crops to rot, or let passersby pick the fruit for free.
Association development manager Trevor Dunmall said too many hobby farmers throughout the region concerned the industry.
"There’s an issue that smaller growers don’t understand what the true price of production is," Mr Dunmall said.
"They’ll take whatever price they can get, whereas the larger, more commercial grower knows what he needs before he puts it in a tray to sell."
Mr Dunmall said the association was taking steps to address the issue within the next few months.
"Unfortunately, when production is high, the prices you get at times don’t match returns," he said.
"The growers who have alternate sources of income will just put in a tray to market, whereas growers who are true mango growers take more consideration.
"They are probably jeopardised by the growers who just want some money for it."
