Photo: RNZ/Monique Steele
The hunt for the cheapest fruit and vegetables by both supermarkets and shoppers is putting pressure on locally produced crops in New Zealand.
Over the past few months, well-known brand Wattie's New Zealand of Hawke's Bay made a series of cuts to local production, firstly of [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/573533/wattie-s-says-slicing-peach-production-in-hawke-s-bay-not-related-to-owner-s-split
canned peaches], then tomatoes, beetroot and corn.
A spokesperson for the brand, owned by American food giant Kraft Heinz, said it annually reviewed its crop intake to respond to market demand, increased competition from imported goods and rising input costs.
David Hadfield, chairman of grower group Process Vegetables (representing processors McCains, Wattie's and Talley's) said food quality and safety regulations on New Zealand farms were generally higher than in other countries.
But he said shoppers, supermarket buyers and others like rest home meal providers were instead buying based on price.
"I think the downswing at the moment is just a blip, really."
He said when demand increased, which he was hopeful it would, so too would the area of crops grown locally.
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