Tomatoes hit $13 a kilo as shortage bites

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

With salad season approaching, tomatoes are almost $4 a kilogram more expensive than usual, Stats NZ says.

Tomato prices climbed 44 per cent in the year to September, hitting an average weighted price of $13.26 a kilo last month.

The higher prices were largely due to uncertainty during the Covid-19 lockdown in April, when business restrictions meant many growers delayed planting or replanted smaller crops.

'We are now seeing a shortage, three or four months after plantings were reduced, which has led to higher-than-normal prices,' Stats NZ consumer prices manager Nicola Growden said.

Tomatoes are almost $4 a kilogram more expensive than usual for this time of year, Stats NZ says.

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'The current price of a kilogram of tomatoes is $3.98 more expensive than the previous five-year average for the September months.'

Zucchini prices have crashed back to earth after hitting a record high in July.

Tomatoes were typically at their cheapest in mid-summer at less than $4 a kilo, she said.

While tomato prices soared, the cost of zucchini crashed back to earth from a record average of $29.60 a kilo in July to $12.36 in September.

The vegetables, also known as courgettes, were spotted on sale for almost $40 a kilo at a Wellington supermarket earlier this year.

The price spike came after imports of some fresh vegetables from the Australian state of Queensland were banned due to a virus.

Prices fell in September as the local growing season resumed and more local produce arrived on shelves.

“The increase in domestic supply has filled the gap left by a shortage of imported courgettes during the winter,” Growden said.

“Courgette prices dropped sharply this month and are about $6 a kilo cheaper than the same time last year.”

Zucchini prices usually bottom out at about $5 to $6 a kilo in January and February.

Overall food prices were down 1 per cent in September, despite a 0.8 per cent rise for meat, poultry, and fish prices.