19 Apr 2023

Food costs force shoppers to ditch fruit and vege

From Morning Report, 7:12 am on 19 April 2023

Cash-strapped shoppers are giving up on buying fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, while parents struggle to afford healthy food to fill kindergarten and school lunchboxes.

Their experience at the checkout is reflected by Stats NZ figures that show food prices jumped 12 percent in March compared to a year ago - the biggest annual increase in more than 30 years.

Vegetables and fruit on a market stall.

Photo: 123rf

Jean Edwards reports.