Bad news for fussy eaters
In a blow to children around the country, broccoli prices are falling.
Statistics NZ has released its latest food price data, which shows the much-maligned vegetable cost 27 per cent less in August than in July, with prices down 32 per cent for the year.
‘‘Broccoli is grown all year round, but is typically cheapest in December, at about $1.50 a head,’’ prices manager Geraldine Duoba said. ‘‘The cool weather this winter provided ideal growing conditions for broccoli.’’
The average price of a 350g head of broccoli was $2.09 in August, down 77 cents from July. It is also about one-third cheaper than a year ago when prices reached $3.09 per head in August 2017.
Cheaper prices for broccoli and other vegetables drove an overall decrease in monthly and annual food prices.
Food prices fell 0.5 per cent in August, with fruit and vegetables costing 2.1 per cent less, influenced by lower prices for lettuce, broccoli, and cucumber.
However, higher prices for snack foods, eggs and butter helped push grocery food prices up 0.5 per cent.
In the year to August, total food prices dipped just 0.1 per cent in the year to August 2018, although fruit and vegetable prices fell 6.5 per cent, reflecting lower broccoli, potato, and cucumber prices.
That decrease offset a 2.9 per cent rise in restaurant and readyto-eat food prices, which had shown higher than average inflation after the minimum wage increase in April this year.
‘‘Fruit and vegetable prices rose strongly last year due to wet weather, peaking in August 2017,’’ Duoba said.