Thursday, 11 May 2023 13:55

Veg supplies look good as winter approaches

Written by  Staff Reporters
The prices of fruit and vegetables rose 22.5%. The prices of fruit and vegetables rose 22.5%.

Vegetable supplies look good as New Zealand approaches the winter season but ongoing unsettled weather could still be the wild card.

That’s according to Vegetables New Zealand chair John Murphy.

“The weather’s been warm and wet as we head into winter when growing slows down,” he says in response to the release of the April 2023 food price index.

The index, released today by Stats NZ, reported a 12.5% annual increase in food prices.

The prices of fruit and vegetables rose 22.5%, an increase Stats NZ says is largely driven by tomatoes, avocados and potatoes.

“We have large and small vegetable growers spread across New Zealand,” says Murphy.

He says that this helps the industry ensure a continuity of supply, something he says is important if a severe weather event occurs in one area, setting it back three to four months.

“Last winter, we advised consumers to buy in season and that’s the advice we’re giving again as we move into the colder and darker months.

“We’d also like to encourage consumers to continue to support their country’s vegetable industry,” he says. “Our industry provides jobs for thousands of New Zealanders, in regions up and down the country, while at the same time providing kiwis with fresh, healthy, great tasting food.”

More like this

Cows down

OPINION: It's not happening as fast as the greenies would like - they actually want all livestock other than Muscovy ducks and Tibetan Llamas to disappear entirely - but it is happening.

Eating more fruit and veg 'helps the economy'

A new international study serves as a stark warning for New Zealanders: our health and wellbeing are in our hands, and increasing our intake of fruit and vegetables is a key step to reducing the pressure on our healthcare system.

Vegetable growing at risk

Horticulture New Zealand says the country’s ability to provide fresh, healthy vegetables is at risk unless the Government makes growing them a permitted activity.

Featured

LIC Space folds for good

Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.

Editorial: Time for common sense

OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).

National

Machinery & Products

Yamaha acquires Robotics Plus

New Zealand based company Robotics Plus, a specialist in agricultural automation, has announced an agreement for it to be acquired…

Ecorobotix announces NZ dealership

Swiss-based Ecorobotix has announced its entry into the New Zealand market through a strategic partnership with Canterbury-based New Zealand Tractors.

Sorting unwashed potatoes made easy

Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes…

Jumbo X saves time and money

A winner of a prestigious ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ award by FederUnacoma at the EIMA show in Italy, the Maschio Jumbo…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Are they serious?

OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…

A hurry up!

OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter