Vegetable and fruit prices have increased in the Central West

Denise O'Grady, a shop co-ordinator at Bathurst Wholefood Co Operative Ltd, says the prices have gone up for vegetables such as carrot, silverbeet and cabbage and fruits such as banana. The store only sells organic fruit and vegetables.

"Bananas have been really affected. They probably doubled in price. We were probably selling them round about $4 [a month ago] a kilo and at the moment we are having to sell them at $8 a kilo," Ms O'Grady said.

"They are organic bananas and they are coming from Queensland.

"Carrots have also gone up for the same reasons.They are selling for $7 a kilo today, but we were selling them probably $3 to $4 a kilo last month."

The good news is that the avocado price has come down.   

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Ms O'Grady said the green leafy vegetables such as spinach and chard (silverbeet) are either very expensive or not available because of the limited supply due to the weather. 

She said her store supports organic and local growers in the area.

She believes prices will come down when the Queensland market is back on its feet.

Vegetables and fruits other than organic have also become more expensive ostensibly due to floods in Queensland and less planting in the Central West because of the extreme heatwave in December and January. 

There have been several thunderstorms in the region in the past two months, but the soaking was not widespread.

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According to the NSW Department of Primary Industries, the main vegetable growing areas in the Central West are Oberon, Bathurst, Blayney, Cowra, Canowindra, Forbes, Condobolin and Orange.

Clint Evans, owner of Country Fruit Distributors in McNamara Street in Orange, said he is seeing a significant price rise in vegetables and some fruits due to recent weather events.

"Severe heat a month ago has damaged stock and delayed planting, so we are seeing this now in the market with short supply on product causing the price rise, along with the floods up north causing issues with freight, affecting bananas mainly," Mr Evans said.

"The drought up north also has caused some tomato growers to run out of water and not be able to plant any fruit or [it being] very limited."

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Mr Evans is hopeful that prices will settle down next month as production in Victoria increases.