Prices of veggies stabilise

There continues to be a vast improvement in the supply of vegetables and prices have stabilized at the city markets, mainly as a result of improved weather conditions.

When Stabroek News visited the Bourda and Stabroek markets yesterday, the report by vendors is that business is still on the plus side. The improvement is once again a significant one.

“Tings looking up,” were the words of one vendor at the Stabroek Market. Tomatoes, eschallot, celery, bora, okra, cabbage, boulanger, packchoy, and pumpkin are among the key vegetables that continue to record a decline in prices.

Eschallot was sold at $380 and $360 per lb last week and is now $340. Tomato held still at $200 and $360 per lb; celery was the same $60 a bundle. Bora was down slightly from $680 a bag to $660; by the bundle the price remained $100 and $160. Okra also more or less stayed in place – it was $160 and $100 a pound and is now $120 and $140 per lb. Cabbage prices remained at $160 and $180 per lb and pumpkin at $100 a slice.

Boulanger was $220 and $220 a parcel when last week it was $200. Packchoy was $200 a bundle as opposed to being previously sold at $300 and $400 a bundle.

Vendors have also reported that while vegetables sold by the pound remained the same in terms of quantity, consumers were getting larger bundles and slices of other vegetables for the same money. At both markets, consumers expressed relief that quality vegetables were once more affordable.

Heavy rainfall in January had seen farming communities along the East Coast flooded, which had affected the supply of vegetables to the major city markets, causing prices to double for what was described as sub-par produce.