Food prices up as fruit, vegetable prices rise
Food prices rose 1.4 percent in June 2011, reflecting a seasonal rise in vegetable prices. This is similar to June 2010, when prices rose 1.3 percent for the month.
Annually, food prices were up 7.5 percent on a year earlier, Statistics New Zealand said. This included a 2.2 percent rise in October 2010, when goods and services tax rose.
The fruit and vegetables subgroup had the largest impact on food prices in June, rising 12.2 percent. This rise in fruit and vegetable prices was influenced by price rises for tomatoes (up 56.9 percent), capsicums (up 43.7 percent), and cucumber (up 35.6 percent).
"Tomato and capsicum prices rose more than they usually do in June, reflecting a supply shortage caused by the January floods in Queensland," Statistics NZ prices manager Chris Pike said.
These price rises were partly offset by a 5.1 percent fall in yoghurt prices (influenced by an increase in the level of discounting).
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Comments and questions5
Lets take GST off that will be sure to solve everything right ? except having the supermarkets having to deal with complications in their systems, therefore the increase costs of meeting this will be passed onto consumers through higher prices ! but we might save 10c an apple ?
Other countries don't seem to have a problem with this.
Maybe everything is just too hard for Kiwi's to do. Could be why we can't close the gap with Aust.
Here's a question - if it's winter why do we assume that we'd want to eat tomatoes at the same rate as when they are in season, likewise for cucumbers and capsicums.
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Buying veges out of season is dumb from a budget, food miles and to be honest flavour perspective.
Apples are cheap, so are greens at this time of year
In my vege garden we are harvesting broccoli, bok choy, lettuce and celeriac (as well as finishing the potatoes we grew). And consuming the berry jam and using the frozen vine ripen tomatoes (from summer surplus) in pasta sauces (and semi dried ones in other dishes).
Quick, lets start an investigation into why international pricing mechanisms and shortages are hiking the price of fruit and veggies up.
Its no different to milk ... international pricing and supply and demand sets the local price. Ecomomics 101.
As much as I love this country I fail to understand why it is now so expensive to live here.
I realize that fruit and veg is seasonal, but it does not explain the price hike on veg such as Broccoli ($2.99 for a head the size of a fist) and Cauliflower. Other countries with slot colder climates manage to keep prices down - what happened to green/hot housing!
As for dairy products such as milk and cheese, there is no explanation - you can travel to Europe and buy NZ produce up to 50% cheaper than here - go figure!
Wake up those in charge, you are killing this place!!!!