Dairy and veg prices fall at Foodstuffs stores
Shoppers paid less at the checkout for cheese, butter and ice cream at Foodstuff stores in December and many vegetables were down more than 30%.
Food prices were up 1.3% in July 2021 compared with June 2021, say Statistics NZ.
They say the rise is mainly influenced by higher prices for fruit and vegetables and grocery foods.
“Fruit and vegetable prices generally rise in winter as lots of summer produce is out of season and becomes more expensive,” says consume prices manager Katrina Dewbery.
The rise in fruit and vegetable prices was mainly influenced by higher prices for tomatoes (up 21%), broccoli (up 39%), and strawberries (up 34%).
The weighted average price of a 350g broccoli head was $4.13 in July, an all-time high, and $0.43 more expensive than the previous high in May 2017.
Fruit and vegetable prices rose 5.1% in July 2021, but only up 0.8% after adjusting for seasonality effects.
“Fruit and vegetables often go in and out of season with large fluctuations in prices, however we can use the seasonally adjusted index to get a better understanding of what the price movement would be without the normal seasonal effects,” Dewbery says.
Milk prices (standard homogenised) rose 3.3% in July to an all-time high weighted average of $3.78 per two litre bottle, following rising global dairy trade prices between December 2020 and March 2021.
“We often see a lag before consumer dairy prices in New Zealand are affected by the global prices,” Dewbery says.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
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