Already struggling with low prices, strawberry growers are imploring customers to keep buying their fruit after sewing needles were discovered in punnets.
NSW Police warned on Friday that six brands of strawberries may be contaminated by sewing needles.
"It is now believed the contamination may affect six brands of strawberries – Berry Obsession, Berry Licious, Love Berry, Donnybrook Berries, Delightful Strawberries and Oasis," NSW Police said in a statement.
These brands are believed to be sold in stores in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory.
Sunshine Coast grower Adrian Schultz said the contamination scare was the last thing the industry needed.
"Our biggest concern is some sort of copycat event happening that could exacerbate the situation," Mr Schultz said.
With only a few weeks left in the Queensland season, Mr Schultz implored consumers to keep buying their product.
A contaminated punnet. Source: AAP
"We could be finished by the weekend," he said.
"I know that farmers that are still going would appreciate the support by the public."
The incident could not come at a worse time for strawberry farmers.
Only weeks ago, some supermarkets dropped the price of strawberries as low as $1 per punnet to help suppliers move tonnes of excess produce.
Mr Schultz previously told the ABC that August and September was already a tough time of year.
"A lot of growers are feeling the pressure at this time of year. We'd be lucky at the moment to get between $3-4 a kilo,” Mr Schultz said last month.
"We're nearly at that point of cost of production being greater than what we're selling them for."
Queensland Strawberry Growers industry development officer Jennifer Rowling told Fairfax on Wednesday the industry was reeling this week.
"Farmers are really nervous about it, obviously, and devastated something as awful as this would happen to the industry," Ms Rowling said.
"It's just a horrible situation for everyone, not just the farmer[s] involved."
Health authorities are urging people to cut up strawberries to make sure they are safe to eat and police want anyone who finds a needle to contact them.
Additional reporting: Nick Baker
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