An acute shortage of lemons is reported in New Zealand

Supermarkets across New Zealand face a severe shortage of lemons because of import delays caused by the pandemic. Because the local lemon season is out of season, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Local discount supermarket chain Countdown has stopped online sales of lemons, selling out of imported lemons as soon as they hit shelves. Supermarket chain New World has introduced a limit of one lemon per customer, priced between USD 6 and USD 10 per kilogram. Limes, an alternative to lemons, sell for a staggering USD20.01-USD 26.68 per kg, and many local supermarkets are running out of lemons.

New Zealand is currently in summer. The lemon production season is from May to September, while July is the peak ripening season, the main export season. Most of New Zealand's summer lemons come from the United States. Still, a large number of imported lemons cannot reach the market in time due to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, and this situation is expected to continue in 2022.