Small increase in price of peas and beans

Customers have been paying more for peas and beans, particularly split peas.

The Consumer Affairs Division, on its website, said the price at grocery stores for pre-packaged split peas in April started at $4.99. The shelf price is now an estimated $6.50.

The manager of a grocery store on Charlotte Street in Port of Spain told Newsday there has been an increase in the cost of peas and beans supplied to them by the Nature’s Pride brand.

A roti shop owner in Marabella also said she noticed a slight increase in the usual cost of split peas.

Minister of Trade, Paula Gopee-Scoon, told Newsday the increase came about because local importers were unable to buy from their regular supplier.

“Two of the large importers, as I understand it, had not been able to source from their original supplier and purchased from an agent at a higher price.”

Nature’s Pride products are distributed by the Pepe’s Marketing Group. The company’s executive chairman, Krishna Sadal, said there has indeed been a 20-30 per cent increase for peas and beans because they had little choice but to purchase from third-party suppliers in Miami and not their original producers based in Canada.

He explained, the company keeps a three-month supply of goods on hand. However, when covid19 precautions were being implemented in mid-March and panic buying ensued, it led to stocks being sold out by the beginning of April.

“For us to re-order, it takes about four to six weeks for shipment to arrive in TT.”

The company placed an order in April with the expectation of getting their supply in May. However, owing to covid19 restrictions in TT and in producing countries, there was a disruption in the supply chain and shipments were delayed. Shipments are now expected to arrive between the end of this week and early June.

“During this interim period, we have to buy from third and fourth party suppliers (and) we had to pay higher prices.”

Sadal said the increase is temporary.

“We expect, hopefully by June, there would be a reduction in prices.”

He said by next month shipping will be easier and prices will revert.

“People will see a reduction on a lot of items.”

Sadal added, the cost of beans will remain high because there is a general worldwide shortage caused by weather issues this year for most of the countries which grow beans. “If (producers) used to get 1000 tons, they only got about 200 to 300 tons (of produce). All beans between now and November will be a bit high, but it is not covid19 related.”

Rajiv Diptee, president of the supermarket association, said he has not noticed any price increase on other items so far. Because local suppliers like Angostura have stepped in to fill the void on products such as hand sanitisers and cleaning supplies, the prices of those items have dropped.

Balliram Maharaj, CEO of ADM Import and Export, said consumers need not be concerned. “It is temporary.” Balliram said because many suppliers have had to cut their labour force owing to covid19, these imported items have become scarce.

He said the prices of other items such as potatoes, cheese and meat have gone down, and this should help offset the small increase on peas and beans for the time being. He said with borders closed, hotels and cruise ships are not buying certain items, causing an excess in products such as milk. “There are prices dropping (on items) because of the excess.”

“People should not worry,” he said, adding it is only (peas and beans) being affected right now.