Great news for Kiwi households & The Growers.
The price of fruit, vegetables and similar household staples were the largest contributor to a monthly fall in food prices.
According to Statistics NZ’s latest Consumer Price Index figures, fruit and vegetable prices fell 3.4 per cent from September to October.
LeaderBrand grows and supplies broccoli, iceberg lettuce, corn, asparagus, squash, and is one of the largest growers of bagged salads and spinach in the country. And some of that produce has taken the biggest dip in prices. Lettuce prices are a whopping 40 per cent cheaper! That’s perfect timing for the summer salad season ahead.
Richard Burke, our CEO spoke to Newstalk NZ and Radio NZ this week to discuss the falling fruit and vegetable prices and says supply had been restricted and demand strong, but now they’re working to recalibrate.
“We’ve got a whole lot of crops out there that’s excellent quality, and the only thing we can do is promote it like heck to get it through the market. So that’s a win for consumers and we just hope they get out there and bank that win.”
Listen to Richard’s interview with Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on NewsTalk ZB: https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/richard-burke-leaderbrand-ceo-on-fruit-and-vegetables-contributing-to-significant-fall-in-food-prices/
Listen to Richard chatting with Lisa Owen on Radio NZ: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018915340/cost-of-living-fruit-and-veg-prices-fall-but-still-higher-than-a-year-ago
Vegetable growers have issued an urgent plea
They want you to put fresh veggies back on your shopping list. They’re not only better for you, but right now, because of a glut, they’re comparatively cheap. Growers say because of past labour shortages and weather events. We’ve forgotten how good they can be.
The weather’s turning nice. Pickers are plentiful. Lockdowns [Covid-19] are becoming a distant memory. The supply of veggies is high, but the demand is low, partly because we, the consumers, have walked away.
Kylie Faulkner, our Business Manager spoke to 3News this week and said for such a long time, they’ve had fresh veg bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis, and now they can really confidently say they’ve got great volumes and a lot of fresh products available at really good prices.