Why the Beloved Beetroot Is Missing From Your Supermarket Shelves

Australia is grappling with a beetroot shortage, leaving supermarket shelves bare and consumers struggling to find the beloved vegetable.  The shortage started a year ago when Cyclone Gabrielle hit Golden Circle’s beetroot farms in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, a key supplier to Australia. Golden Circle’s beetroot supply then dwindled until it ran out completely, leaving only manufacturer’s Three Threes and Edgell to meet the demand, with Edgell processing in Echuca, Victoria. Ed Fagan, a beetroot farmer supplying Three Threes from Cowra in New South Wales, said Golden Circle’s absence created a significant supply gap. “And we’re at the point where we’re trying to fill the gap.”...