Last Wednesday, reports began about to emerge about sewing needles found hidden in at least three punnets of strawberries in Queensland.

Over the next few days, strawberries containing needles were found in every Australian state, and reports also surfaced about needles in apples, bananas and mangoes. It’s been labelled an act of ‘consumer terrorism’.

Late last week, strawberries were taken off the shelves, and consumers were encouraged to return or dispose of their strawberries.

The unexpected consequence of the scare, however, has been the financial and emotional toll it’s had on growers.

On Tuesday, Stephanie Chheang, the daughter of Donnybrook Berries co-owner Leena Lee Cufari, shared footage of the impact the ongoing scare has had on her family’s Queensland business. A truckload of fruit, dumped – just in case.

“This is no doubt the worst thing to ever happen to my family,” she wrote on Facebook. “This here is worth more then you could ever imagine and within three days we lost it all.

“My mum and my step dad has worked years to build the empire they’re sitting on now, they put all their money and effort in to build such a successful business. They work hard to make the money for our family and to have these selfish individuals destroy it is just so upsetting. [sic]”

The toll on farmers has been so devastating that Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday announced a $1 million fund to assist strawberry growers in her state.

“The crop is worth $160 million — it is the lifeblood for 150 growers and their workforces,” she said in parliament.

“Police are having to deal with not only the original contamination, but also apparent copycats.

“This is an attack on all of us.”

In response to the growing awareness of the impact these incidents have had on Australian farmers, social media users have started a campaign calling for consumers to “cut ’em up, don’t cut ’em out”.

The hashtag #smashastrawb began as a way to support Australian farmers and their livelihood – with hundreds of people sharing their favourite strawberry recipes.

It’s an act of unexpected solidarity, at a time strawberry farmers need it most.

A few strawberries and yoghurt, just what the doctor ordered ???? #smashastrawb pic.twitter.com/BhSvyiFY71

— Rod Caddies (@RodCaddies) September 20, 2018

Morning 1 of my new healthy eating plan. Decided to #SmashAStrawb as well. Yum! pic.twitter.com/0PPv5Y1jGP

— Candice (@CandoBax) September 19, 2018

Support our Strawberry Farmers! Check out this amazing Strawberry Custard Fruit Tarts Get the recipe here – https://t.co/fGxJfXcnt0

Cut ’em up. Don’t cut ’em out ???? #smashastrawb pic.twitter.com/49QkynmLhZ

— Nicko (@NickosKitchen) September 18, 2018

Bircher breakfast with strawberries and yoghurt and strawberries au naturale in the kindy lunch #smashastrawb pic.twitter.com/lCHbaJipH6

— Homemade Lemonade (@H0memadeLemonad) September 19, 2018

Morning tea of Nutella toast and strawberries #smashastrawb pic.twitter.com/SxJJRXTAZ6

— Homemade Lemonade (@H0memadeLemonad) September 20, 2018

#SmashaStrawb 1.01 (the Millennial Edition) pic.twitter.com/Ellzz5A8DK

— Simon te Brinke (@gramercypark) September 19, 2018

Strawberry thickshake = a punnet per glass. Absolutely delicious. #smashastrawb pic.twitter.com/kBMNPvDu6p

— Elle Griffin (@ellegriffin4) September 18, 2018

My youngest learned to make crepes in French at school today. He made them for the family tonight to #smashastrawb pic.twitter.com/uUl4fESthG

— Andrew Gaspar (@andgasp) September 18, 2018

Don’t chuck em out. Make cheesecake! #smashastrawb pic.twitter.com/4LTj0JBGdi

— ???? Robyn (@rzester) September 19, 2018

So, despite my Twitter handle, I do actually pay for any strawberries in my possession. And I bake things like this yoghurt, honey, cinnamon, and rosewater strawberry upside-down cake… #smashastrawb pic.twitter.com/Zq4tFI0Wxn

— Strawberrythief (@strawberrythief) September 18, 2018

Jane is getting behind our strawberry farmers who are being punished for doing nothing wrong. Instead of chucking them, just cut them and check! #kennedymolloy #SmashAStrawb @Jane_L_Kennedy pic.twitter.com/0kbaAWNYRT

— Kennedy Molloy (@kennedymolloy) Sept