Media information
For immediate release

Date: 28 May 2009

Kai @ The Right Price Comes At The Right Time

A celebration for an Otorohanga health initiative, now rolled out throughout the Waikato District Health Board region, took place today.

And it seems Kai @ the Right Price may have come at just the right time to ease money woes for some.

The initiative offers affordable fruit and vegetables to families, all the while supporting small local businesses, working with them to facilitate readymade fruit and veggie packs valued at $5-20.

Along with the fruit and vegetables, buyers also receive healthy recipe ideas to put into practice with their fresh produce, as well as budgeting tips.

A celebration for the north King Country-born project took place at The Big Apple Café in Waitomo this afternoon.

Te Kuiti health promoter Betty Holden was part of the working party who started Kai @ the Right Price at Otorohanga Country Fresh in 2007. It then moved north to Te Kuiti last year.

Ms Holden, who spoke at today's celebration, had just returned from a nutrition and physical activity conference, where the cost of healthy food was top of mind.

"I think it's really fitting that this was developed some two years ago, and we can now celebrate it at a time where more of us need low cost health initiatives like this because of the current climate," she said.

During the three-month trial period in Te Kuiti, Nahna & Co. sold 419 fruit and vegetable boxes. Due to that success, Kai @ the Right Price is now in Putaruru, Taumarunui and Huntly as well.

"Unfortunately, when money is tight people often go without fresh fruit and vegetables due to their perceived high cost," said Population Health group manager Barbara Garbutt.

"Kai @ the Right Price aims to help families - high or low income - get their recommended daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetables for a reasonable price.

"The flipside to that is that it also helps support local retailers in their business as well."

Waitomo and Otorohanga community members, Waikato DHB staff, participating retailers and supporting health organisations were all at The Big Apple Café today.

In light of the celebration, the first 200 people to order Kai @ the Right Price boxes also receive a branded eco-friendly shopping bag and calendar full of recipes.

The limited edition packs are available for order from Tuesday, 2 June.

ends