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Bad weather puts crops, rosellas in a jam

Kingaroy jam and preserve producer Lyn Glover. - ABC

Producers in the southern part of Queensland are hoping for early spring rain to regenerate their land and water sources.

Gympie deputy mayor Tony Perrett says drought, a spot of relief rain, and now extensive frost have created a volatile season.

The prospect of an El Nino is very unwelcome, and Mr Perrett says rain is desperately needed by late next month.



"All the pasture has been cut by frost, and that's [the pasture] fairly thin, remembering we didn't get that rain until the end of March; the growing season was short."

In Kingaroy, a combination of bad conditions has decimated half a rosella crop belonging to an award-winning jam and sauce producer in Kingaroy.

Lyn Glover started making jams, preserves, sauces, and chutneys about five years ago after she was diagnosed with cancer and searched for a hobby to keep busy.

She's won an award for her hot chilli and ginger sauce, but wild weather has wreaked havoc on her rosella jam supply.

"The wind, the weather, bugs, everything... nature's really been very rough with us.. and now the frosts have beaten me again and now my bushes are dead, now I've got to start all over again," she said.

She has salvaged the remainder of the crop to freeze for jam.


- ABC

© ABC 2014

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