NZ: consumers shocked by prices of blueberries

As retailers in Queenstown and New World supermarket in Wellington are selling small 125g boxes of b…

As retailers in Queenstown and New World supermarket in Wellington are selling small 125g boxes of blueberries from $15 to $20, consumers are shocked by the price and refuse to buy them.

General manager of organic blueberry orchard Monavale Blueberries Marco de Groot said his company started selling blueberries at farmers markets last week for $8 a box and may start selling in supermarkets from next week.

De Groot said prices were always higher at the start of the season because of limited supply, but prices normally dropped by Christmas.
Spokeswoman for New World owner Foodstuffs Antoinette Laird said produce prices were driven by seasonality and availability. "In the case of blueberries, it is still very early in the season and there is currently only limited product available. The good news is that, as we move into November and towards Christmas, temperatures tend to increase, so consumers can expect to see blueberry prices decrease sharply."