Crunch time! Kiwis run out of crisps

NEW Zealanders are bracing themselves for a crisps crisis as farmers warn of a potato shortage.

The imminent ‘chipocalypse’ – as it has been dubbed by Kiwis, who call crisps chips – is due to persistent wet weather hitting production.

The rainfall, which included two serious floods in both the North and South islands, has wiped out 20 per cent of the annual potato crop. As a result, the price of potatoes has risen by 30 per cent in the past 12 months.

A sign posted by a customer online yesterday, with a picture of an empty supermarket shelf, said: ‘Attention customers. Due to a nationwide potato shortage, we will be having trouble stocking potato chips.

‘This will likely last until the New Year. Sorry for the inconvenience.’

The supermarket, Pak n’ Save, later said there had been an ‘ordering error’ and tried to play down fears of a shortage.

But Foodstuffs, which owns New Zealand’s largest supermarket chains, said farmers had told them that potato products such as crisps and packaged, frozen chips might soon be affected, and the shortages could last into the New Year.

‘The grower community is highlighting a potential future potato shortage due to bad weather,’ said Antoinette Laird, head of external relations for Foodstuffs.

Chris Claridge, the chief executive of industry body Potatoes New Zealand, added: ‘Try going for a week without potatoes. It is a food staple and this is becoming a food security issue.

‘Having potatoes is a very important part of the New Zealand psyche.’