Smaller growers disadvantaged

Published date01 December 2022
Publication titleCentral Otago News
The last one shut 12 months ago, Mr Preedy said

Cherry Tree Farm owners Pete and Sharon Brass have seen the same trend, as small gardens shut up shop.

Mr Brass said in his former nursery business, he had watched small growers exit the industry.

‘‘One of our biggest issues in New Zealand, especially with our supermarkets and the duopoly that controls them, is there’s a lot of pressure on growers and the market gardens have dropped out substantially over the last 10 years.

‘‘There are very specific areas now where most of the food is grown because the bigger growers are able to do better in those areas and the supermarkets have ended up contracting to the bigger growers. The auction system that used to be in place has gone and it’s pretty much, ‘This is what we are going to pay’.’’

That came with its own risks, as seen in early November when bad weather in Pukekohe created an onion shortage and a jump in prices year-on-year by 72 cents a kilogram, according to figures from Stats NZ.

Mr Preedy said New Zealand was, and always had been, a rurally led export market and said if someone overseas was prepared to pay a certain price, that became the basic price.

‘‘That’s what the country...

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