Weather lashes vegie buyers

By RENEE KIRIONA

People will pay more than double for their greens because of a major shortage in vegetables.

Yesterday the price of most vegetables increased by more than 200 per cent as a result of the floods in the lower North Island and heavy rains in the rest of the country.

Before the storm broccoli was around $1; it is now $4. A cauliflower was $1.60 and is now $4.30. Spinach was $3 a bunch. It is now $7.

And Wellingtonians could end up paying even more because much of the produce destined for their shelves was destroyed by floods in the Manawatu.

Growers association Vegfed said the flood-stricken region produced about 10 per cent of the country's vegetables.

Pukekohe, another major crop growing area, had been hit by hail which destroyed much of its yield.

The shortage could last a further two months as growers struggled to clean their patches and renew their plants, said Vegfed chief executive Peter Silcock.

Consumers Institute chief executive David Russell said nothing much could be done about the situation.

"Supply and demand is a basic economic principle and of course the consumer is going to suffer from this."

Stuart Johnston of Progressive Enterprises - which supplies Foodtown, Woolworths, Countdown and Price Chopper - said there had been increases but he could not give any prediction on prices for at least the next two weeks.

Wholesaler Fresh Direct, which gets most of its produce from Horowhenua, Manawatu and Auckland, is considering importing vegetables from Australia.

But the country's largest wholesaler, Turners & Growers, believed it would still be able to meet regional demands.

Spokeswoman Kylie Hawkins said: "For now we're okay."