Banana blessing as avocado prices rise
It’s a far cry from the great avocado shortage of 2016, but the treat that’s become the mascot of millennial spending habits has surged in price and is selling for up to up to $7.50 each.
Auckland woman Josie Campbell was surprised to see avocados selling for $7.49 at Fruitworld. The grocery store’s spokeswoman said the price had surged due to a shortage in supply.
Campbell said: ‘‘I’m not even a millennial and this is too steep for me!’’
Last month avocado prices were between $4 and $5.
The fruit is currently being sold at $6.50 each on Countdown’s online store.
Last year avocado prices reached the highest in a decade, costing more than $22 per kilogram in June and July.
But New Zealand Avocado chief executive Jen Scoular said high prices were normal at this time of year, and supply would continue to be short until late July when the main season starts.
There would not be a repeat of last year’s two-month shortage, she said.
Last June, the shortage was blamed for the theft of hundreds of avocados in the eastern Waikato region. However, a month later, the harvesting of new crops cut prices by half.
Countdown spokesman James Walker said the fruit usually had a bad year followed by a good year, and agreed that the situation was better this year.
‘‘What we’re seeing at the moment is the unfortunate reality of seasonality. Next week marks the start of the new avocado season, so fingers crossed we’re all through the worst of it,’’ Walker said.
Foodstuffs spokeswoman Antoinette Laird said this week in particular has seen a shortage in supply. A smaller crop is expected compared with last year’s big crop, which will affect prices, she said.
Heavy rain and flooding also caused vegetable shortages in April this year.
Walker said that in the past avocados would not have been sold out of season, so price hikes were not as obvious.
Scoular said that to meet demand for the popular fruit, growers are planting another 1000 hectares over the next three years.
But Laird said the best bet for consumers would be to substitute avocado with bananas on toast.