But when it comes to peaches, it doesn’t.
Wattie's is out. Pams do a good line of imported stuff, and those who buy peaches in tins like it cheap.
A lot of us like cheap.
Cheap has never been more appealing in a cost of living crisis. If I was in the business of patriotic purchases, I would close my door and go home.
It does work to a degree overseas. Australia is running an "Australian Made" campaign which has had traction.
Canada gave it a good push post the tariff debacle. The French are into it. But a place like New Zealand, despite the rhetoric, has never really excelled at being good at backing local.
Pams do peaches at $0.99. Wattie's is $3.90. They would have to be some pretty spectacular fruit for that price, and that is why Wattie's is out.
They told us yesterday demand is down. Who needs Brian down the road in Hawke’s Bay when you have fruit from Lord-knows-where at a fraction of the price?
Peaches are also out of favour. As Greg my hairdresser and I were talking during the week, who buys cans of peaches anyway?
It's school camp food, he suggested. But he might just be one of those trendy urbanites.
I walked him down memory lane with my childhood canned fruit salad that had peaches and pears and apples and two cherries. The cherries were the prize. I'd happily burn a whole can of syrupy crap to land the two cherries.
But here is the thing – one of the tricks in life is honesty.
When we face these issues, we burn a lot of energy and time on things we know aren't going to work, or are past their used by date, or are a waste of time.
Marching for Gaza is not saving a single life or stopping the war.
Turning up at COP30 isn't getting an inch closer to Net Zero and Helen Clark is never going to think more concerts at Eden Park is good.
We don’t like local anything if we have to pay more than some cheap crap from Vietnam or on Temu.
It is what it is.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
It does work to a degree overseas. Australia is running an "Australian Made" campaign which has had traction.
Canada gave it a good push post the tariff debacle. The French are into it. But a place like New Zealand, despite the rhetoric, has never really excelled at being good at backing local.
Pams do peaches at $0.99. Wattie's is $3.90. They would have to be some pretty spectacular fruit for that price, and that is why Wattie's is out.
They told us yesterday demand is down. Who needs Brian down the road in Hawke’s Bay when you have fruit from Lord-knows-where at a fraction of the price?
Peaches are also out of favour. As Greg my hairdresser and I were talking during the week, who buys cans of peaches anyway?
It's school camp food, he suggested. But he might just be one of those trendy urbanites.
I walked him down memory lane with my childhood canned fruit salad that had peaches and pears and apples and two cherries. The cherries were the prize. I'd happily burn a whole can of syrupy crap to land the two cherries.
But here is the thing – one of the tricks in life is honesty.
When we face these issues, we burn a lot of energy and time on things we know aren't going to work, or are past their used by date, or are a waste of time.
Marching for Gaza is not saving a single life or stopping the war.
Turning up at COP30 isn't getting an inch closer to Net Zero and Helen Clark is never going to think more concerts at Eden Park is good.
We don’t like local anything if we have to pay more than some cheap crap from Vietnam or on Temu.
It is what it is.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
5 comments:
Fake MG cars from big bad China are hot sellers for a reason . Cheap and roomy.
The push to "buy local" has never worked.
But there is still a consumer demand for "quality".
There is also the seasonal / availability factor to consider.
So, it is likely the consumer will demand canned peaches when they are out of season.
Ultimately "hairdressers" are not the best source for obtaining information about market forces.
Perhaps Mike Hosking should have gone to a "Barber" instead for his blow dry and manicure.
I am a person living alone and have inheruted my parents Deperssion era derived tradition of frugality. The local supermarket is the cheapest ;PakN Save. I do not know where Mike gets prices from. Whilst high food miles Italian baked beans and spaghetti are an astonishing mere $1, cheap Chinese peaches are somewaht more expensive, and Watties maybe a dollar additonal to that. I do not know whether dessert is still traditional or what most people now serve, but tinned peaches are very convenient . I suspect demand has dropped because of the shift to unsweetened which makes for a far less palatable product. Free trade agreements are a two edged sword. In the 1950s/60s when NZ was an idyllic paradise with full employment and little inflation we had total protection.But a very basic car, with no radio or heater, and requiring a lot of servicing, cost a year's salary plus a compulsory trade in.
The most powerful economic force is revealed consumer preferences – ie put your money where your mouth is. It isn’t those who say they buy NZ made or free-range eggs, the truth is what is in their basket at checkout when faced with paying $12 or $8 for a dozen size 7s. During a time of high cost, the price for brands and virtues is the first to go. Unfortunately, cost of living crisis hits those least able to choose anyway, and they will take no convincing to buy cheaper imported goods than paying more for NZ made. Inner city liberal lefties will still buy free-range, organic oat milk and gluten free products for their faux allergies.
The price gap between local canned peaches and those from China or South Africa is much closer in New Plymouth than the prices quoted. Perhaps the juice rather than syrup options are more popular now. Lucky peaches are available cheaply.
Indeed looxoory. Back when i was a kid times were ard. Could only afford t can , sometimes just t lid. We would lick off anything there and if lucky scrape off a bit of peach with bare fingers
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