Courgette prices dropped 43 per cent in October, but carrot prices rose by 19 per cent.
Welcome Bay consumer Meghan Scarrow thought the price of vegetables was getting "ridiculous".
"It's almost easier to buy processed food instead of fresh produce. It would be at least half of my food budget each week," she said.
Ms Scarrow said she had started growing vegetables by buying a plastic tub with holes in it and a bag of soil.
"Anyone could make a quick vege garden, it doesn't need to be fancy."
Harland Sinclair, owner of Ooooby, the organic food delivery service and Emma's Food Bag said it had been a tough year caused by heavy rain and new food regulations.
He said consumers should look around to find a good deal.
Tauranga Budget advice manager Diane Bruin said vegetables did take a lot out of the budget.
"More families are struggling to make the food budget work effectively and are always looking at cheaper alternatives," she said.
"For the replacement vegetable items, frozen can be a cheaper option and less wastage."
Countdown merchandise manager of produce Steve Sexton said the price of fruit and vegetables fluctuated due to seasonal shifts, weather conditions, export/import factors and supply and demand.
"The Consumer Price Index doesn't take factors like this into consideration or that if you're buying summer vegetables in winter these will be more expensive."
He said produce such as tomatoes and lettuce, which were out of season when the quarterly report was taken, had an effect on the increase of prices.
Green-fingered resolution
Emily Gullick, her husband, Mike and their two children have not bought a vegetable since 2015, after a New Year's resolution to only eat what they could grow.
"It's a heck of a lot cheaper and definitely possible," Mrs Gullick said.
"At the end of last year we decided we wanted to challenge ourselves. To see if it was practical and viable to do it."
She estimated it saved the family $40 a week.
"It is very, very difficult to buy food for four people. If I had to buy everything I grow, it would be unaffordable."
Mrs Gullick said her family are "100 per cent more appreciative" of where their food comes from, and are planning on making their one-year challenge, life-long.