Kumara supplies slump as prices surge

New Zealanders should expect another kumara shortage, with rain affecting this year’s harvest.

The humid and wet weather has upset the growth of kumara, so supplies are running short.

Locky Wilson, the general manager of Delta Produce, New Zealand’s largest kumara producer, says all the plants' growth has gone into their foliage, and it "appears that nothing has grown much underneath".

Burgerfuel and Burger Burger have taken their kumara chips off the menu. In recent times, kumara chip supplies have been on and off, leaving customers in doubt as to whether they would be able to order the side dish.

“We would get them for maybe one maybe a couple of days, but then, they’ll be gone,” says Phoenix Michael, a Burgerfuel staff member.

Delta Produce has only gathered 15 per cent of its usual crop. Because the weather has limited its supplies, the vegetable has had to be rationed out.

Last year the company received 1800 tonne less than the average receivership of seven tonnes an acre. "Around about May to June all the kumara were harvested, and we were 40 per cent down in supply,” says Mr Wilson.

Harvested kumara is stored in a humidity-controlled environment where it undergoes a natural curing process. “Storing kumara in a 30-degree environment converts starches into natural sugars so it will taste a lot sweeter,” he says.

A price of $7.99 a kilo is expected to continue throughout the year.

Sue Hamilton, external relations manager for Foodstuffs NZ, says pricing at supermarkets is all about supply and demand.

"Trends change all the time, so it comes down to how much customers want at any given time.”

Mr Wilson says that if retailers didn't put prices up, supplies would be running out before the peak period, Christmas time.