The region's leafy greens are being affected by continual hot and dry conditions, leading to less supply and higher prices at the supermarket.

Local fruit and vegetable supplier Somsri Young said she was putting up additional shade to shield crops from sun burn but the ill weather seemed to never end. 

"Some vegetables are getting sun burnt, a lot of capsicum and shallots - my dragon-fruit is getting sun burnt," she said.

"Hot weather is affecting them a lot, it makes coriander go to seed quicker and grow slowly.

"This year it's been hotter and drier than last year, the heat seems to never end."

Ken Little from Ken Little's Quality Fruit & Veg, said this year was worse than normal and rain was needed badly for growers.

"This year has been worse than normal because there has been no rain, even though there is heat around this time each year," he said.

"There is a shorter supply for beans, broccoli and cauliflowers because we have had so much heat over Christmas and January.

"Beans are costing three times what's normal, spinach has more than doubled.

"Growers can't plant to replace stocks because it's too hot and there's been no water, the next crop is likely to be affected."

Port Macquarie Growers Market's Mike Cusato said a vegetable shortage perfect storm was occurring due to hot conditions, some growers running low on water and a lack of diverse suppliers.

"The biggest issue is heat, day in day out there are extreme heatwaves," he said.

"Mainly leafy vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, beans, celery, tomatoes and things like that are affected.

"It cooks them in the paddock, they have stunted growth and have to be picked at a lesser quality.

"Some suppliers have never seen supply so low in 50 or 60 years, there's a lack of variety of leafy and green vegetables - an impact which is accumulative every month."

Mr Cusato said he has never seen the price of celery and broccoli as high for as long and people should look for unaffected alternatives such as Asian greens, sweet potatoes and some fruits.

"The demographic of growers has shrunk, I am struggling for choice because there are less suppliers," he said.

"Cauliflowers are at $7 or $8 each, they usually average $2 to $4 and are sometimes $1.

"Broccoli is at $7 to $8 a kilo, beans are above $15 a kilo when they are usually $4 to $6."

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.