As New Zealand supermarket stocks of tinned plums, apples and corn are running low, it could be a while before supplies bounce back. Due to Cyclone Gabrielle, preserved produce will be harder to find in the lead-up to Christmas. This February, the cyclone affected much of the country and caused a “horticulture apocalypse” in Hawke’s Bay, where it impacted about 35% of the region’s crops.
A Woolworths NZ spokesperson said the company was experiencing a “significant shortage” of locally supplied tinned fruit and vegetables because of the cyclone. Woolworths hoped to have more New Zealand-grown fruit and vegetables after next year’s harvest.
Foodstuffs, which operates the Pak’nSave, New World and Four Square brands, was similarly affected, spokesperson Emma Wooster said: “The price and availability of fresh produce is very dynamic with lots of different factors influencing the overall cost. Canned and frozen fruit and vegetables are generally more stable, but less product at harvest time can mean less availability down the line.”
Source: stuff.co.nz