Policies will push up vege prices: HortNZ

WELLINGTON: Horticulture New Zealand is warning vegetable prices could increase by nearly 60% by 2043, if central and local government policies that will stop the expansion of vegetable growing are accepted.

A Deloitte report, commissioned by the industry group, found if growers were prevented from expanding to keep up with demand, consumers could be paying as much as $5.50 in today’s money for a Pukekohegrown lettuce, instead of about $3.50.

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman said vegetable growing across the country was under pressure from competition for highly productive land, access to freshwater, climate change mitigation and increasing government and council regulation.

Mr Chapman said this included the Government’s Action Plan for Healthy Waterways, which proposed controls on land intensification and rules to reduce nitrogen leaching.

Mr Chapman said the country needed to grow more fresh vegetables, citing the benefits of healthy food.

‘‘Access to new irrigation to expand vegetable, fruit, berry and nut growing needs to be maintained, as it is a winwin situation,’’ Mr Chapman said.

‘‘A move towards increased food selfsufficiency and increased domestic production will improve New Zealand’s ability to feed itself, making us less dependent on imports.

‘‘This move would also ensure that fresh fruit and vegetables are more affordable, which would have a positive impact on the health of all New Zealanders, especially those who are less well off.’’

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Environment Minister David Parker are due in Pukekohe today to hear growers’ concerns. The Government announced its plan to clean up waterways last month but since then critics have worried that it may not balance the needs of the environment with the needs of farming and growing.

The proposals include tighter restrictions on intensification of land, all farms requiring management plans addressing water quality, some farms facing nitrate caps and further fencing requirements and winter grazing standards.

The ministers, along with Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta, said in a statement at the time: ‘‘We need to reduce the amount of pollution (nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, E. coli and other contaminants) entering our waterways from our cities and from our farms.

‘‘We are proposing new requirements to make real change as quickly as possible.

‘‘However, freshwater degradation issues have been decades in the making, so we want to ensure the pace of change is manageable and appropriate support is in place.’’

❛ This move would also ensure that fresh fruit and vegetables were more

affordable