One of the major suppliers based at the Rocklea markets, Peter Kedwell, said heatwaves, not the bushfires, had ruined thousands of crops in recent weeks, causing "enormous" price rises in all vegetables, particularly broccoli, cauliflower, beans, spinach and zucchini.

"At this time of the year when it's normally too hot to grow here in south-east Queensland, we rely on our produce coming from Stanthorpe and Victoria," Mr Kedwell, who owns Pershouse Produce, said.

"The consequences of the heatwaves in Victoria have been very serious for the industry. There have been huge problems with supply ... I haven't seen price increases like this in a very long time."

New Farm greengrocer Anthony Schiavon, of All About Fruit, said the price hikes had shocked him.

"Normally we would buy broccoli for $10 to $20 a box but at the moment it has been more like $60 a box," he said.

"We've also had to pay $45 for a box of cauliflower - and there's only 10 in a box."

He said baby spinach had been unavailable for weeks because the heatwaves had wilted crops.

Mr Kedwell said shoppers could expect prices to return to normal in the next three to four weeks as crops from regions west of Brisbane, such as Gatton and the Lockyer Valley, made it to stores.

"Once our own local supply increases, prices will [fall] again," he said.

"This is only a temporary situation and our local fruit and vegie shops are all very competitive."