Courgettes and cucumbers reached record-high prices in July 2020, rising more than 30 per cent in the month, as Queensland imports continued to be banned. Stats NZ claims fruit and vegetable prices were up 9.8 percent in July 2020.
Courgette prices rose 38 per cent to a weighted average price of $29.60 per kilo, up from a previous record high of $21.42 per kilo in June. Some reports showed courgettes prices reaching up to $38.99 per kilo. Of course, imports of fresh courgettes, cucumbers and other cucurbit from Queensland have been banned this year because of a plant virus.
Sunlive.co.nz quoted consumer prices manager Nicola Growden as saying: "During the winter months, without the usual imports to fill the gap in local supply, we have seen a sharp rise in courgette prices. In July, courgettes cost almost as much as a kilo of either sirloin steak or fresh fish."
Courgette shortage sees record-high prices has more information on the current Queensland trade suspension.
"Prices for courgettes typically fall when the New Zealand growing season picks up in spring or it could change when imports from Queensland resume," Nicola added.
Cucumber prices rose almost 32 per cent in July to a record high of $18.63 per kilo. This is $6.54 more than this time last year, reflecting the impact of the ban on imports from Australia. Overall food prices rose 1.2 percent in July 2020, mainly influenced by seasonally higher prices for tomatoes, lettuce, and broccoli.
