If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
hummus – a type of food that is a soft mixture of chickpeas, garlic, oil and lemon juice
multinational – a multinational company has offices, factories, and business activities in many different countries
brand – a type of product made by a particular company that has a particular name
import – to bring a product from one country to another
spokespeople – – plural of spokesperson – a person who speaks on behalf of a group or organisation
takeaways – a meal that you buy at a shop or restaurant to eat at home
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Why are two companies closing some facilities in New Zealand?
- When will McCain close its vegetable processing plant in Hastings?
- How many farmers will the closure impact?
- What will Heinz Wattie’s no longer sell?
- How many roles at Heinz Wattie’s will be affected by the closure?
- Why is it not sustainable for these companies to continue to operate these sites?
- What might happen if we rely on imported food?
- What does the Ministry of Health recommend?
- What percentage of adults ate the recommended number of servings of vegetables in 2024/2025? And in 2021/2022?
- What percentage of adults ate the recommended number of fruit servings?
- What does the speaker say about fresh vegetables?
News story
Two companies which are well-known suppliers of frozen vegetables are closing some facilities in New Zealand. Sales of these vegetables in supermarkets have been declining. Fewer New Zealanders eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day.
McCain announced on 24 March that it will close its vegetable processing plant in Hastings by January 2027. This will impact more than 100 farmers who grow carrots, beans, peas, and sweetcorn in Hawke’s Bay. Then on 27 March Heinz Wattie’s announced that it will close its manufacturing sites in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland, as well as its frozen packing lines in Hastings. This means it will no longer sell frozen vegetables, Gregg’s instant coffee, and dips such as hummus. The closure will affect 300 roles in the company.
Both McCain and Heinz Wattie’s are owned by large multinational companies. They say that it is not sustainable for them to continue to operate these sites because of high input costs and declining sales. Consumers now often buy supermarket brands, such as Pams or Woolworths, which are cheaper. Some of their vegetables are imported, though, so New Zealand farmers lose business. This is also a risk for the country’s food security. If we rely on imported food, we may not have access to enough if there are global events which affect supply. For example, the current war between the United States and Israel and Iran is slowing shipping around the world, which could impact food security.
Another possible reason for the decline in sales is that fewer people are eating frozen vegetables. The Ministry of Health recommends that people eat two servings of fruit and five of vegetables every day. A serving of fruit is one apple, banana, orange or pear, or two small kiwifruit or apricots. A serving of vegetables is half a cup of cooked vegetables or one cup of green leafy or raw salad vegetables. According to the Ministry’s New Zealand Health Survey 2024/2025, only 6.8 percent of adults ate the recommended number of servings of vegetables, down from 10 percent in 2021/2022. On the other hand, 46.8 percent ate the recommended number of fruit servings. Some food industry spokespeople have suggested that fast food and services such as Uber Eats are more popular now, but they noted that bought meals often do not have many vegetables. They say there has been a significant drop in demand for frozen vegetables but not for fresh vegetables. While fresh vegetables can be expensive, often those in season are cheap and are healthier options than takeaways.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. Why are two companies closing some facilities in New Zealand?
Sales of frozen vegetables in supermarkets have been declining. Fewer New Zealanders eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day
b. When will McCain close its vegetable processing plant in Hastings?
By January 2027
c. How many farmers will the closure impact?
More than 100
d. What will Heinz Wattie’s no longer sell?
Frozen vegetables, Gregg’s instant coffee, and dips such as hummus
e. How many roles at Heinz Wattie’s will be affected by the closure?
300
f. Why is it not sustainable for these companies to continue to operate these sites?
Because of high input costs and declining sales
g. What might happen if we rely on imported food?
We may not have access to enough if there are global events which affect supply
h. What does the Ministry of Health recommend?
People should eat two servings of fruit and five of vegetables every day
i. What percentage of adults ate the recommended number of servings of vegetables in 2024/2025? And in 2021/2022?
6.8 percent; 10 percent
j. What percentage of adults ate the recommended number of fruit servings?
46.8 percent
k. What does the speaker say about fresh vegetables?
Sales of fresh vegetables haven’t dropped; they can be expensive but often those in season are cheap; they are healthier than takeaways.