The supply of autumn produce such as pears, apples and feijoas to supermarkets had not been halted by January flooding or Cyclone Gabrielle. Persimmons and mandarins would arrive later in the season. But president of United Fresh and 5+ A Day Charitable Trust board member Jerry Prendergast there were some real challenges that had occurred in the vegetable market with the Auckland floods.
Citrus fruits were still being imported, which was why the price of limes were quite dear. Citrus fruit would be picked next month.
Prendergast: “We normally expect to take apples right through until Christmas, but it’s still too soon to predict what volumes will be like for us domestically and even how the fruit will perform for export.”
Stats NZ reported fruit and vegetable prices were up 23% year-on-year in February. But Prendergast said the percentage increase had been consistent since the end of last year and on average prices were only up about 1% each month.
Source: stuff.co.nz