There's shock from vegetable growers at news frozen food company McCain is shutting its Hastings processing plant next year.

McCain says it reflects a shift in how it'll supply vegetables within New Zealand and Australia.

Heinz Watties also announced this month plans to close its Hastings packing site, and three manufacturing sites.

Process Vegetables NZ chairman, David Hadfield, says growers will have to start exploring other options.

He says McCain didn't let anybody know this was happening - even larger growers.

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