Woolworths lock in fruit and vegetable prices

THE price of some fruit and vegies will be the same for the next year at Woolworths, while Coles is cutting the price of bread to $1.

THE price of five lines of fruit and vegies will be kept the same for the next 12 months at Woolworths, while Coles is cutting the price of its own brand bread to $1.

From today Woolworths will fix the price of certain types on apples, tomatoes, carrots, brown onions and golden delight potatoes at the same level until July 3, 2012.

The potatoes price will not immediately apply in WA or Tasmania, Woolworths said.

A Woolworths spokeswoman said the only thing that could affect the price lock-in would be an extreme weather event.

But the fruit and vegetable lines had been picked because they were among the least susceptible to weather-related price fluctuations, she added.

The Heart Foundation welcomed the move.

Meanwhile, Coles says it will sell its Smartbuy bread for $1 a loaf.

It follows the supermarket's decision to cut the price of some of its milk in January.