FARMERS and politicians are calling on the defence force to airlift millions of dollars of fruit and vegetables being left to rot on the Tableland.

Growers are also cutting staff as the economic impact of the region being cut off by flooding starts to hit.

Tableland business leader and grower Ian MacLaughlin will today dump 40 pallets of rotting pawpaws that have been stuck at Cardwell for a week.

He is expecting to dump more when a second refrigerated truck that had been bound for a Golden Circle cannery makes it way back to Mareeba in the next few days.

"It has cost me about $80,000," he said.

"I have had to lay off 20 staff as I cannot pick, cannot transport and, if I could, I cannot get fruit further than Cardwell."

Mr MacLaughlin called on the Federal Government to mobilise the air force to help transport fruit and vegetables south.

Peter Mills, the co-owner of Mareeba fruit and vegetable transport and storage company CLC, said the Government had used the air force to help during the pilots strike and it should now do the same for the agricultural industry.

He said shipping by sea was not viable as the containers available were not refrigerated. In a letter read to Federal Parliament by Independent Tony Windsor yesterday, flooded-in Kennedy MP Bob Katter said there was up to $10 million worth of fresh fruit and vegetables in cold rooms and sheds in cut-off coastal areas.

"It is with great bitterness and considerable anger my request for an airlift for these fruit and vegetables, made Thursday last week, has still not been answered," he said.

Mr Katter has briefed Treasurer Wayne Swan and it is understood an announcement could be made as early as today regarding assistance from the air force.

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