Thanks to seemorerocks.is for this important info. Here is why NZ's food shortages. It's not 'the war'. The grower in the interview tells us that this has been brewing for 5 years! Your 'kind' govt requires from them a resource consent to grow, a consent to water and a consent to wash the veg. And predictably the supermarkets pay them insufficient to meet growers' requirements. We need to support local markets ... local growers.

We're 'all in this together' peeps, team of 5mill. I wonder what the esteemed polis are dining on these days? Meanwhile our power has just done a hike also by doing away with low user benefits. TWNZ

seemorerocks.is

This is an interview on NZ television with an award-winning vegetable grower on the problems growers are facing, in terms of both cost and regulation in growing food and getting it to the market.

He says it is a problem that has been brewing for the last 5 years or so.

There were warnings back then that the changes made by government would bring the very food prices we are seeing.

He points out:

• The cost of production has been increasing for growers to the extent that the price offered by the retailers (read the supermarkets) is BELOW THEIR COST OF PRODUCTION so it is no longer worthwhile sending produce to market.
• He also points out that: in some regions of NZ it is ILLEGAL to plant new ground in vegetables;
• the government requires a resource consent to grow vegetables, to irrigate and wash them; the grower, who has won environmental awards cannot get consent to plant new areas.

VIDEO LINK: In New Zealand it is illegal to plant new ground in vegetables

Finding any background on this or anything relating to the most important part of human existence in this country is like looking for a needle in the haystack.

It does not appear to be there

Fruit and vegetables drive up annual food prices

Annual food prices rose 6.8 percent in February 2022 compared with February 2021, Stats NZ said today.

This was the largest annual increase since July 2011 when prices increased 7.9 percent.

In February 2022 compared with February 2021:

• fruit and vegetable prices increased by 17 percent
• grocery food prices increased by 5.4 percent
• restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased by 5.2 percent
• meat, poultry, and fish prices increased by 7.1 percent
• non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 2.3 percent.

“Fruit and vegetables were the largest contributor to the annual movement, mainly influenced by tomatoes, broccoli, and iceberg lettuce,” food prices lead analyst Angus Crowe said.

Food price inflation soars again – fruit and vegetables up 18pc

Food prices were 7.6 per cent higher in March 2022 compared with March 2021, Stats NZ said today.

New Zealand’s Surging Food Prices May Fan Inflation Expectations

Zealand food prices rose the most in more than 10 years in 2021, adding to risks that the central bank will need to do more to contain inflation expectations.

All I could find on this was that people growing and selling food have to adhere to the NZ Food Act 1914

The Food Act 2014 takes a common-sense approach to food safety. If you make or sell food, your business may need to be registered. Find out more about the Food Act and what it means for you

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/food-act-2014/

SOURCE

https://seemorerocks.is/in-new-zealand-in-some-regions-it-is-illegal-to-plant-new-ground-in-vegetables/?fbclid=IwAR00Pt4ogeftwhN6vZHlyiVX_6QuGtPr2APM6balakVk635HmMiMZe20fdM

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