Editorial: Butter price gets me thinking

Dairy prices have people seeking alternatives for food.

We don't eat butter in my household so when a friend asked me to pick up some butter from the dairy on my way over it was my first introduction to the state of the butter prices in New Zealand.

When I paid $7.50 for it, I was shocked and also relieved it wasn't part of my weekly shopping list.

When I delivered the butter and squawked at the price it sparked a long conversation about the cost of butter and what others were doing to reduce their butter consumption.

Some people had switched to margarine, some had only switched their children to margarine and some, impressively had started to make their own butter.

Today, we have a story in our paper about the rising costs of food, with butter increasing in price by 60 per cent, food in general by about three per cent and fruit and vegetables up more than six per cent.

It seems no surprise, people are doing what they can do save on their shopping bill.

In fact, the rising costs of food has been attributed as one of the reasons more people are trying to rent their own garden spaces in Tauranga and grow their own food.

There are many benefits to growing your own food and price hikes are not the only reason people are looking at renting the spaces, with people also preferring organic food and wanting to know exactly how their food is grown.

I love that people are considering this more. It seems like a great way to not only spend less on food, it is also a way to focus on healthier living by consuming natural products.

The idea of growing my own food, eating what is natural and good has always appealed to me. It's not something I have practised, but it is a goal I'm wanting to look into further.

Though it's not price-driven, and more health-driven, maybe the rising cost of food will be the kick I need to pick up a positive habit?