By Femi Harris
Earlier in January, the severe flooding of farming communities along the coast had affected the supply of vegetables to the major city markets, causing the price to double for what was described as sub-par produce.
But when Stabroek News visited the city markets yesterday vendors related that there was an improvement in the supply of vegetables. Most of the key vegetables are no longer fetching high prices and the quality is better now.
Vendors at Bourda Market explained that although prices for all key vegetables had not yet decreased, they are happy that there has been a drop in prices for some in comparison to weeks back when they were paying more than double.
Among the key vegetables that saw a drop in prices at both the Bourda and Stabroek markets are eschallot, bora, okra, cabbage, celery and pumpkin. Eschallot that was sold at $600 and $700 per lb is now $400 and $500. Bora that was previously sold for $1,500 a bag can now be bought for $800 and a bundle has decreased from $200 and $400 to $100. Okra is now down from $240 and $280 to $100 and $200 per lb. Cabbage is no longer $280 per lb but is now $180. Pumpkin can now be bought for $100 a piece as opposed to $200 and $300 earlier.
Vendors have indicated that the decline in prices for the key vegetables was the result of a few days of sunshine, which caused floodwater to recede from the East Coast farms, allowing vegetables to grow and the supply to increase.
According to a Stabroek Market vendor, “de couple a days that de sun shine was really good man, it help couple things fuh spring up and suh farmers was able to reap.” She went on to say, “yuh see, sometimes when de rain fall, especially heavy, it does beat down on de plants and duh could destroy them, we really glad fuh de lil sunshine man.”
Vendors at both city markets have related, however, that though the prices for some of the key vegetables have decreased, business is still slow to some extent. “Ah guess we got to give our customers a little time before deh start buying in de regular amounts again,” was what one Bourda Market vendor said. They are hopeful that business will soon pick up as usual.
Meanwhile, consumers are equally happy about the decline in prices for the key vegetables. One consumer told Stabroek News, “man I really glad fuh de sunshine, not only de vendors because I could afford to purchase more greens now.” Another consumer added, “the quality is better now too, since some a de water drain off the land.” They have also related that they are now beginning to receive the usual quantity of vegetables for their hard earned money. “We ain’t getting lil bit greens fuh we money no more,” one consumer commented.
