New potatoes may be scarce, but Otago growers and retailers say Christmas should be a time of plenty for fruit and vegetables.
Ettrick Gardens' John Preedy said he had good supplies of raspberries and strawberries, ''enough to cope with my customers''.
Carrots and lettuces were growing well, though ''new potatoes are a bit light''.
''I've got to be honest and say the new spuds aren't as good as what they normally are.''
That was because of weather and growing conditions.
''They're not digging out that well.''
Carrots and broad beans were growing well, and he had a good crop of early cherries, Mr Preedy said.
Prices for the year were ''pretty much as normal'', he said.
Steve McArthur, of McArthur's Berry Farm in Outram, said things were ''a bit slower this year'', but he expected produce to be ''plentiful''.
''When the sun's out a lot of things happen.''
The raspberries were just starting, and ''by the time Christmas comes we should be right''.
Carrots and lettuces were doing well, and new potatoes were ''not too bad''.
Prices were up for potatoes, because North Otago had been hit by frost and dry weather.
Veggie Boys co-owner Marty Hay said availability and prices were ''pretty good''.
''Right at the moment we're flush with strawberries and tomatoes'', though the market would ''tighten'' closer to Christmas, because of demand.
There did appear to be a shortage of potatoes in the South.
