Supermarket prices: Price pinch for fresh fruit and veggies

Shoppers are becoming more price-conscious and eating less fresh fruit and vegetables, new data shows.

Australian supermarket shoppers are becoming more price-conscious and eating less fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy, new data reveals.

It comes as the horticulture industry encourages consumers to shop seasonally to take advantage of both best prices and quality for produce.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data, which looked at consumption of selected food stuffs, showed almost 2 per cent less food and drink was sold in 2022-23, excluding food purchased from cafes, restaurants, or takeaway.

This was driven by declines in vegetable products, down 14g per capita; fruit, down 12g per capita; an 11g decline in milk products; and 2.5g declines in meat and poultry products.

AusVeg chief executive Michael Coote said Australian households were under increasing budgetary pressure, but that the benefits of regularly consuming fresh produce was “well documented”.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data, which looked at consumption of selected food stuffs, showed almost 2 per cent less food and drink was sold in 2022-23

“Given vegetable prices are often based on supply and demand, we encourage all consumers to shop around and take advantage of the wide array of versatile, Australian-grown fresh vegetables that are in season and available across the country at a given time of year,” Mr Coote said.

Hort Innovation data for the four months to April 2024 found 60 per cent of consumers would buy “whatever fresh fruit and vegetables are cheapest”, a 55 per cent lift compared to same time last year, with 85 per cent said value for money was an important factor when grocery shopping, up on 83 per cent same time last year.

The data also showed 56 per cent of consumers were planning on buying tinned goods in the coming seven days, with 46 per cent planning on purchasing frozen vegetables, and 22 per cent planning to buy frozen fruit.

Ausveg chief executive Michael Coote said Australian households are under increasing budgetary pressure Picture: Supplied

Berries Australia executive director Rachel Mackenzie said producers were preparing for the peak of berry season along the east coast, resulting in a bumper crop and “amazing value” at the supermarket.

“This is when you get the best blueberries, for the cheapest price,” Ms Mackenzie said.

“Most frozen berries are imported. We just cannot produce them at a cost that makes it viable.”