All is not peachy in THE KITCHEN

Preserving an old tradition tests Kerre's can-do attitude to the core

- KERRE WOODHAM

Wattie's announced last week that it's cutting back on buying local peaches for its tinned fruit and put the blame on New Zealand shoppers.

There has been a decline in demand for homegrown peaches, the company said, with consumers choosing cheaper, imported alternatives. Accordingly, they say they've had to adjust the volumes of peaches they take from Hawke's Bay orchards.

When you look at the difference in the price of a can of peaches, you can't really blame Kiwi shoppers. If you're watching the pennies, you're going to go with a can of Pams peaches at 99 cents over a can of Wattie's peaches at $3.99 every time. And let's face it, Wattie's hasn't been a local business since it was taken over in 1992 and became Heinz Wattie's.