Floods may push up prices
Green-thumbed Kiwis in the north of the country who were relying on a vege garden to help ease grocery bills this year will have their hopes dashed as a result of the unprecedented flooding in the region.
An industry organisation has advised that any crops that have come into contact with floodwater should be immediately disposed of.
‘‘Floodwaters can flush through sewer systems and across rural land collecting human and animal waste. The waters may contain pathogens that can make you seriously ill,’’ said United Fresh Food safety representative, AnneMarie Arts.
‘‘We’re advising anyone with a home garden that may have had floodwater enter to throw away affected plants immediately.’’
And there is no relief in sight for those rising fresh produce prices, either.
Commercial crops that have come into contact with floodwater will be deemed to be contaminated and will not be harvested, which will have an immediate impact on supply and price.
‘‘Replanting the land will not occur for some time until it is dry and considered suitable. These delays might result in supply gaps of some varieties,’’ Arts added.
Crops that might be suitable to pick will now be quarantined until they are declared safe to eat by microbial testing, focusing on E. coli – present in the majority of Auckland rivers – and salmonella.
Food prices in New Zealand jumped by 11.3% in the year to December 2022, the biggest annual increase in over 30 years.
Fruit and vegetables were the biggest contributor to the monthly movement of food prices, with growers already having been hit by a very wet summer. ‘‘While this flood has worsened our supply situation, the whole industry will be working hard to get enough fresh vegetables to market in the coming months,’’ Arts said.