According to Ausveg spokesman Cameron Brown, prices for fruit and vegetables have dropped as much as 75 per cent, offering the perfect opportunity for Australians to grab a bargain.

“The hot weather many of us are experiencing is also affecting a number of the nation’s major fruit and vegetable growing areas, meaning that growers have high amounts of ripe produce which needs to be sent to markets immediately, creating a large supply at retailers,” Mr Brown said.

“Red capsicums have been reported as selling for 80 cents per kilo, when earlier in the year they were over three times this price.”

Produce which currently represents good value for money as a result of the warmer weather are capsicums, tomatoes and zucchini.

Another factor which affects the ripening of fruit and vegetables is a full moon, which occurred in the last week of November in the Southern Hemisphere.

“The hot weather, combined with the lunar cycle has created a situation where fruit and vegetables are ripening very quickly.”