No Rocklea Markets today

At 4am most mornings, Brisbane’s Rocklea Markets is typically abuzz with the state’s fruit and vegetable sales, but at 4am today it was up to 6m under water.

The state’s largest fresh fruit and vegetable market closed its gates on Wednesday after floodwaters rose, leaving 58 fruit and veg stall owners and agents with nowhere to store or sell produce.

Negotiations with Gowinta Farms at Beerwah will mean farmers still have a place to send fresh produce so stores can continue to receive shipments of fresh fruit & veges.

Gowinta Farms has eight cold rooms with the capacity to hold more than 100 pallets of fresh produce and more than 1000sq metres of dry storage.

Plans are underway to have the facility open within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The Brisbane Markets are anticipating a 2 to 3 week clean up operation, making Gowinta Farms home until mid February.