Price of produce skyrockets in South

SEETA PERSAD

Following the release of the annual budget earlier this month, the price of fresh vegetables went up in the local markets as the price of gas and diesel went up. According to businesswoman Joanne Gooding, whenever there is an increase in transport, fresh produce sells at a higher price.

She noted tomatoes went up from $12 to $16. Today, following the floods in south Trinidad, tomatoes are sold for $20 per pound. “Although, the price of tomatoes has gone up, vendors are not making a big profit out of this,” Gooding said, adding that vendors have to pay a high price for these goods. Gooding predicts a shortage in fresh vegetables and a bigger hike in the price of staple foods and dairy products for the upcoming Christmas holidays. “It is obvious that the floods have affected the price of local produce but prices will go up further,” Gooding said.

In San Fernando market yesterday, melongene sold for $14 while cabbage, ochros, bodi and pumpkin sold at $10 per pound. Peppers are sold at $2 for one and Callaloo Bush is sold at $10 per bundle.

Lisa Gunness, who was spotted shopping for vegetables and fruits at the San Fernando market, said she could not believe the price for tomatoes and cabbage. “Imagine I would get enough market products to feed my family of five with $200, but I have to put out another $200 to purchase vegetables and fruits,” she said.

Vendor, Linclon Lewis said foreign fruits such as apples, pears and grapes remain at a steady price while the price of local citrus fruits and vegetables keep rising. “Sales have been extremely slow due to the hike in the price of vegetables following floods in the southern districts.”

Lewis said vegetable prices will soar in the coming months since the recent flooding wiped out huge crops in Felicity, Caroni, Bonne Aventure, Aranguez and Talparo in the North and Valencia in the east and Oropouche, Penal and Debe in the south. “We have to brace for a shortage of fresh vegetables as corn, lettuce, cabbage and sweet peppers,” Lewis said, noting shoppers are already experiencing a sharp rise in staple foods such as flour but, he could see prices raising even higher.

Acting CEO of National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO), Nirmala Debysingh-Persad urged farmers to desist from selling flood-affected crops to vendors.