While there is no certainty that the prices for agricultural commodities will remain stable during the Christmas period, retail price levels released by the New Guyana Marketing Corporation a week ago might well tempt consumers to purchase and store to guard against the eventuality of price increases.
As of last weekend, according to the New GMC, cabbage was being retailed at prices ranging from $120 to $140 per pound at both Stabroek and Bourda markets while okra was fetching prices ranging from $80 to $100 per pound. Pumpkin, meanwhile, was being retailed at $60 per pound. Other vegetables listed in the New GMC retail chart include bora which was trading at $40 per bundle, boulanger, at $100 per parcel, cucumbers at $40 each and squash at $200 each.
According to the retail chart, tomatoes were being retailed at $200 per pound, saeme at $300 per pound, carrots at $200 per pound and plantains at $170 per pound. Last week the price of pakchoi had slipped to $50 per bundle.
Food seasonings, usually popular during the season were also trading at prices that might tempt consumers into early buying. Celery was trading at $600 per pound, eschallot at $200 per pound and hot pepper at between $90 and $140 per pound. Wiri wiri pepper, meanwhile, was being traded at $100 per pint.
Last weekend, both of the city’s major municipal markets were trading a wide range of fruits including apple banana at around $100 per pound, Cayenne and sweet fig at $150 per pound and watermelon at $80 per pound. Round limes could be purchased at around $23 each, pineapples at $300 each and oranges at around $23 each. Papaw was available at around $366 each, passion fruit at $40 each and mango at $66 each. Dry coconuts were also available at $60 each.
Root crops, including cassava were also available in plentiful supply in the city markets last weekend with cassava trading at $110 per pound and eddo at $70 per pound. Sweet potato was being sold at $70 per pound, yam at $300 per pound and ginger at $400 per pound.
