Shoppers' pain: Fruit and vege prices drop

Shoppers say they're still searching for savings, despite a drop in prices for fresh produce. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller.

Supermarket shoppers are still holding out for savings on fruit and vegetables, after the announcement that prices have fallen.

Woolworths New Zealand says better growing conditions means some produce is up to 30 per cent cheaper than this time last year.

But shoppers in Auckland say they are yet to see much of a difference.

Woolworths general manager of fruit and vegetables Ryan McMullen told Midday Report this week that the weather situation has "significantly improved".

"The weather patterns changed around mid-spring, and leading into summer, and got into a much more settled, normal weather pattern, where rainfall is predictable and has contributed to much better growing conditions for growers and therefore more product in the market."

Woolworths says household favourites such as lettuce are up to 40 per cent cheaper.

But outside Ponsonby's Countdown supermarket - run by Woolworths - shoppers say they are still searching for savings.

"It's expensive, but everything is, it's not just fruit and vege, it's everything, everything has gone up," says one shopper.

"I think it is coming down gradually but not really enough to give you a shock," says another.

One shopper, Jackson, says if the chain can afford the rebrand from Countdown to Woolworths, it can afford to keep costs low.

"I think their prices are pretty crazy, especially when they've got all that money to rebrand for whatever reason they chose to."

Statistics New Zealand data shows food price inflation is slowing to its lowest point in more than two years.

Data from February showed fruit and vegetables drove a 0.6 per cent drop in the food price index last month, with smaller drops in meat and groceries.

Cheaper fresh produce is the main influence on the annual figures, offset by more expensive takeaways and restaurant meals.

Vegetables New Zealand chair John Murphy says the drop in veggie prices will make a big difference to households.

He encourages shoppers to buy what is in season.

"If you buy what's abundant, then it helps growers," he says.

"The reason that prices come down is that we have a lot of that vegetable, so if you can learn some of the tricks about using different vegetables then you'll save quite a bit of money."

Foodstuffs - which runs the New World and Pak'nSave supermarkets, says it has been a challenging few years keeping food prices under control.

A spokesperson for the company says they are determined to help shoppers get value at the checkout.

-Finn Blackwell/RNZ.

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