HortNZ supports new water storage plan
Horticulture New Zealand has welcomed the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s decision to advance plans for a new water storage facility on the Heretaunga Plains.
Vegetable prices fell 8.7% in September, with lettuce prices falling 45%.
Lettuces is now priced an average of $1.81 a head, says Statistics New Zealand. They were down 30% for the year.
“Prices reached an all-time high of $5.42 for a 500g head of lettuce in July 2018 due to poor weather. But since then we’ve had two major price falls, which meant lettuce prices reached an unseasonably low level this September,” consumer prices manager Geraldine Duoba said.
While lettuce averaged $1.81 a head in September 2018, at the same time last year the price was about 80 cents a head higher, at $2.59.
Vegetable prices fell 8.7% in September, influenced by lower prices for lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. However, meat and poultry prices rose 2%, influenced by higher prices for beef and chicken.
Overall, food prices were almost unchanged in September 2018 (down 0.1%), but showed a slight rise after seasonal adjustment (up 0.3%).
In the year ended September 2018, food prices were also relatively unchanged (up 0.1%). This was driven by higher prices for ready-to-eat food (up 3.5%), and milk, cheese and eggs (up 2.2%). Prices decreased for vegetables (down 8.9%) and fruit (down 3.6%), which helped keep overall food inflation low for the year.
“After the poor weather and a reduced harvest in 2017, vegetable prices have returned to more typical levels for this time of year,” Du
Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.
New Zealand’s top business leaders are urging the US Administration to review “unjustified and discriminatory tariffs” imposed on Kiwi exporters.
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
A global trade war beckons, which is bad news for a small open economy like New Zealand, warns Mark Smith ASB senior economist.
Carterton's Awakare Farm has long stood as a place where family, tradition and innovation intersect.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
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