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Early
days yet but this is a hint of what is the come.
Just wait for
multiple crop failures around the world that will be upon us “faster
than previously expected”
The
scientists will be once again caught unexpected
Gita
destruction spills over to New Zealand dinner plates, with produce
prices spiking
6
March, 2018
Zucchinis,
or courgettes, were in short supply due to the wet, humid weather.
Ex-cyclone
Gita is still causing conundrums, although now they're confined to
the kitchen.
New
Zealand shoppers are experiencing price hikes in the fresh produce
section due to the damage done by Gita.
"The
vegetables don't like to swim," Foodstuffs NZ spokeswoman
Sue Hamilton said.
123RF
Crops
of cauliflower, broccoli and lettuce were those most affected by
ex-cyclone Gita.
Foodstuffs,
which runs New World and Pak'nSave supermarkets, was in short supply
of cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce and salad vegetables.
"We
were hoping this would be resolved in the next couple of weeks, so
that's what what everyone has got their fingers crossed for, that
things will start to level out," Hamilton said.
The
shortage came at a time of the year when people would usually expect
a "fabulous" supply of fresh produce, she said.
"Regrettably
the weather and its impacts are out of our hands."
The
struggle has extended to ready-meal provider My Food Bag, which
is having to re-imagine different recipes in light of the shortage.
Cauliflower,
broccoli, bok choy and leafy green products were all
affected, fresh produce purchasing manager Naomi Moses
said.
"Also
some root vegetables like kumara have been affected due to growers
not being able to get into the fields and harvest which then puts us
into limited supply."
She
said if a product is not available, or not up to scratch, the
company's chefs come up with recipes to suggest alternative
products.
"Customers
are generally very understanding as no one can control 'mother
nature' and we are making sure they get the best of what's
available."
Moses
said the word from the growers was that the shortage will last around
10 days, but some products could take a little longer to bounce
back.
My
Food Bag sources about 97 per cent of its produce from
New Zealand growers.
Stats
NZ said avocado and pumpkin prices had already more than doubled
in the year to January.
Prices
for some produce had been affected by adverse weather during winter
and spring, consumer prices manager Geoffrey Wong said.
The
average price of a 200g avocado was $2.78 in January, compared with
$1.29 in January 2017.
