For NZ consumers, the price of lemons might be quite high at the moment, but according to one citrus grower, the supermarkets aren’t ripping them off.
Countdown’s online supermarket has some of the costliest lemons in Nelson at $10.99 per kilo, amounting to about $2.20 per item; while Fresh Choice sells them at $10 per kilo (about six lemons); and a Nelson-based produce store, Benge and Co, has the versatile fruit on sale at $8.99 a kilo.
The cheapest lemons in town appeared to be from another independent produce store in Nelson’s Stoke, where they were selling for $3.49 per kilo, if they were in stock.
James Williams, managing director of commercial citrus grower Williams Bros, said at this time of year, there was always a domestic shortage with imported fruit, largely from Australia filling the gap.
“There should be enough availability for everyone. It’s not an anomaly that supply is tight.”
He said it wouldn’t be long until more lemons would be picked around the country.
Source: stuff.co.nz
