According to the Daily Mail<\/a>:<\/p>\n The cost of vegetables is expected to rise by as much as 50 per cent with meat and milk prices also predicted to soar.<\/p>\n At least one billion animals have been wiped out by the catastrophic fires, including thousands of sheep and cattle.<\/p>\n Fresh produce is also in limited supply after thousands of crops were destroyed in the blazes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In comments reported by the website, Federal Minister for Agriculture Bridget McKenzie said:<\/p>\n \u201cSupermarkets are letting the Australian public know that they’ll have to pay more for their red meat – yes, you will.<\/p>\n \u201cThat they’ll have to pay more for their fruit and vegetables … (and) milk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Shoppers could soon be paying much more for their groceries as Australia's bushfire crisis pushes up food prices https:\/\/t.co\/iyTgjIfqyr<\/a><\/p>— Daily Mail Australia (@DailyMailAU) January 15, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>