Hort urged to back controversial emissions plan
The country's horticulturalists have been urged to get in behind the controversial He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) agricultural emissions plan.
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
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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