Carrot prices hit all time high in New Zealand

Prices for fruit and vegetables have soared in the past year with vegetable prices increasing and carrots hitting record high prices.

Food prices increased 2.2 per cent in total in the year to February 2017, Statistics NZ says. Fruit and vegetables were up 7.7 percent and grocery food was up 2.3 percent.

Vegetable prices were up 12 per cent, led by higher prices for carrots, kumara, and tomatoes. Carrot prices are at an all-time high, up 51 per cent since February 2016. One kilo of carrots cost $3.53 in February 2017, compared with $2.34 a year ago.

Poor growing conditions in the North Island last year had resulted in a shortage just before Christmas, said Brendan Hamilton of Pyper Produce, one of New Zealand's largest carrot supplier.

Apple prices also contributed to the large movement, up 32 per cent from February last year. However, apple prices in February were down 13 percent from January.

source: nzhearald.co.nz

Publication date: 3/13/2017