KEDGLEY STILL PUSHING OVER-PRICING BARROW
KEDGLEY STILL PUSHING OVER-PRICING BARROW
RETIRING Green Party MP Sue Kedgley is continuing to claim that supermarkets are routinely putting substantial mark-ups of 100 to 300% on fresh fruit and vegetables – an issue strenuously denied by both supermarket groups. This follows a survey done by the Green Party of 120 fruit and vegetable growers that showed the growers were struggling.
“Seventy eight per cent of growers in our survey are being forced to sell their produce at times for less than it costs them to produce it, 29% of them on a frequent basis,” said Kedgley. This survey has now produced a call from the Party for more transparency in the supply chain to help growers understand what happens to produce prices between the farm gate and retail. Horticulture New Zealand president Andrew Fenton said growers do wonder at the difference they see themselves getting at the farm gate and the retail selling price.
“HortNZ is interested in looking at further ways there could be more transparency in the supply chain and we are following developments being made in other countries in this area, especially Australia and the UK,” he said. Kedgley has been claiming that supermarket pricing practices need to be investigated and that a Code of Conduct and an Ombudsman needed to be established.