Limes from New Zealand are selling for more than $75 per kilo in some supermarkets, with one grower saying it's the highest price he's ever seen. A New Zealand Reddit user posted a photo of limes on sale at a New World supermarket for $75.99 per kilo, writing that prices are "out of control".
At that price, with an average lime weighing somewhere between 130-140 grams, you'd get about seven limes in a kilo - at a cost of more than $10 per fruit.
Today in Auckland, New World Victoria Park was selling USA limes for $50 per kilo. Online, the price was $59.90 per kilo, and $50 per kilo at Countdown.
Antoinette Laird, spokesperson for Foodstuffs, which owns the New World brand, says limes are much more scarce this season than in previous years: "Lime harvest season in New Zealand is in March, so to make sure our customers have the option of fresh limes we import them at this time of year. Fresh limes are currently in short supply globally, mainly due to high levels of rain resulting in lower yields than usual - this makes fresh limes more expensive to bring in than previously."
The New Zealand lime season runs from about March to July, but some producers have been able to extend their season by growing indoors, in pots, or under glass.
Lime grower Greg McCartney of Lime Affair says $75.99 per kilo is the highest consumer price he's ever seen, and that the wholesale price at the moment is sitting around $44 per kilo.
During the peak season, limes typically sell for between $3-$4 per kilo, but the January and February months typically bring much higher prices because Kiwis love eating - and drinking - limes around Christmas time.
Source: tvnz.co.nz
