While prices for vegetables at the Bourda Market have remained steady between July 12th and August 17th based on checks done by Stabroek News, tomatoes continue to fetch a premium rate and there could be a link to the oil and gas industry.
The tomato price was also high at the Stabroek Market and the one supermarket this newspaper checked.
Tricia, a Stabroek Market vendor told this newspaper on August 4th that she customarily bought tomatoes for $500 or $600 per pound and sold at a $100 markup. However, she said that the farmers had raised their prices and she considered herself lucky to be able to sell her tomatoes at $700 per pound since she was able to source some cheaper from one farmer. Purchasing from her wholesaler would have required her to sell her tomatoes at $800 per pound.