New Zealand needs a national food strategy to address the fact that a third of New Zealanders need food banks or financial help to obtain enough food.

‘What Consumer NZ has found is appalling in a country like New Zealand that produces enough healthy food to feed 40 million people,’ says Vegetables NZ Chair, John Murphy.

‘A national food strategy would increase New Zealanders access to fresh healthy food, which is essential if we want a well, happy and productive society.

‘New Zealand has lost its way. For example, vegetable prices have been low for more than a year thanks to good growing conditions. However, low prices have not resulted in any noticeable lift in vegetable consumption, so there is obviously more going on here.

‘In Australia, the government and vegetable industry have come together to mount a campaign to increase vegetable consumption by one more serving a day, having found that Australians eat less than two servings of vegetables a day.

‘Anecdotally, we know it’s a similar situation in New Zealand. We are not addressing poor health because of poor diet – this is putting an unnecessary burden on the country’s health system.’

A 2023 report from Otago University found that if a cohort of New Zealanders added one more vegetable a day to their diet, just over $830 million would be saved in the healthy system, over the life span of that population.

‘To improve New Zealanders’ health, New Zealand needs a food strategy that improves access to fresh, healthy food like vegetables. This strategy needs to invest in education about food choices and ensure that resource management settings ensure New Zealand can continue to grow its own healthy food.

‘We know it is hard to understand, but New Zealand is only one major weather event away from vegetable shortages and much higher prices. In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, vegetable production was reduced by 10-15% and yet prices rose by up to 300%.

‘That’s why a food strategy for New Zealand must take a national view of vegetable production, and ensure the country can continue to grow vegetables in key areas such as Pukekohe and Levin, which are currently under threat from unworkable, regional resource management approaches.’

John says action needs to be taken now, before it is too late, and vegetable growers are forced out of business.

‘Growers shutting up shop will only increase vegetable prices and worsen the statistic that a third of New Zealanders need help to access food.

‘We look forward to this Government taking decisive action in the current round of resource management reform. We also look forward to seeing progress on a national food strategy for New Zealand, as there’s so much at stake.’

https://www.freshvegetables.co.nz/news-and-events/news/nz-food-strategy-needed-to-address-dire-statistic-a-third-of-kiwis-need-help-to-access-food/

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