Food Prices Rocket

This just in from Stuff.co.nz:

Food prices rocketed by 2.8 percent last month – the biggest increase in 20 years.

Figures from Statistics New Zealand show that food prices have soared by 8.4 percent in the 12 months to June.

SNZ said that all five of the food subgroups it measures increased in June. The most significant upward contribution came from a 15 percent rise in fruit and vegetables.

Government Statistician Geoff Bascand said that cold weather had hampered growing conditions.

Within this group there were stratospheric increases in the price of lettuce (up 122.8 percent) and tomatoes (66.7 percent higher).

There’s no time like the present to start growing your own food! Come along to Seedy Sunday at the Kapiti Community Centre this Sunday, at 2pm to learn how. Get support and inspiration for your gardening. Remember to bring something for the swap table.  Mark Howell from Te Ra school will be talking about compost and explaining planting by the moon.