Lychee farmers on the Sunshine Coast of Australia are experiencing significantly reduced yields this season, leading to financial challenges and forcing some to implement diversification strategies.
Gynara Gattera, owner of Landsborough Lychees, reported a nearly 98 percent reduction in their harvest, preventing them from sending any fruit to wholesale markets, which typically generate the majority of their income. To mitigate losses and keep their farm shop open, the Gattera family has diversified by selling freeze-dried dairy and vegan fruit ice creams, alongside home-grown produce and coffee. The poor harvest necessitated Ms. Gattera's husband, Paul, returning to his off-farm job earlier than anticipated. The farm recently invested $650,000 in netting to protect its 3,000 lychee trees from pests.
Ms. Gattera attributed the low yield partly to the trees adapting to changes in light under the new netting and their natural fruiting cycle. Additionally, heavy rainfall in 2025 reportedly impacted pollination and increased soil acidity.
Further north, at Ferntree Valley Farm in Kulangoor, the Yarrow family faces a 50 percent loss in their lychee yield. Rob Yarrow, who returned to manage the farm after his father's passing, noted a significant amount of fruit dropped during development this season. Despite the reduced yield, wholesale market prices for lychees have increased. The farm is processing second-grade lychees, along with other citrus fruits, into juices for direct sale to customers at their farm shop and markets.
June Yarrow, Rob's mother, continues to assist with processing freshly picked lychees and operates their stall at the Yandina markets.
Derek Foley, president of the Australian Lychee Growers Association, confirmed that rain and poor pollination contributed to underproduction in south-east Queensland this year. He stated it is currently too early to forecast the overall impact on the national lychee crop, which typically ranges between 2,500 and 3,000 tonnes.