A single avocado in New Zealand can set buyers back five dollars. Since April last year, prices have doubled and are now at their highest level since July 2005, according to Statistics New Zealand.
Chief executive of NZ Avocado Jen Scoular told Fairfax the demand for avocados has soared since consumers have learned the health benefits from consuming the fruit, as well as how versatile they can be.
Avocados have also become an increasingly popular food for social media users and bloggers, incorporating the trending food into their daily snaps.
According to Statistics New Zealand, fruit and vegetable prices rose 3.9 per cent in April, following a 1.9 per cent gain in March. Vegetable prices rose 6.3 per cent, led by a 69 per cent jump in tomato prices and a 46 per cent increase for cucumbers.
Fruit prices rose 1.1 per cent, led by gains for avocados and strawberries.
However it’s not all bad for food shoppers, grocery prices decreased 1.7 per cent since last year, due to lower milk and yogurt prices as well as meat, poultry and fish prices.
Source: Fresh Plaza