Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Veggie prices seen to increase next week By Joy Romares-Sevilla
PRICES of vegetables in Davao City are expected to increase next week, vendors at the city's biggest public market said Monday.
Nathaniel Patigas and one Tata Malitad, both vendors at the Metro Circle, the "bagsakan center" at Bankerohan public market, said this will be another round or price increases after the suppliers increased their selling prices by P10 to P55 per kilogram as compared to last week's prices.
"Prices of onions significantly increased by P55, it now costs P100 per kilogram compared to the P45 per kilo last week," Malitad said.
Prices of other vegetables like potato, carrots, cauliflower, and asparagus have also increased.
From P35 per kilogram, potato is now pegged at P45 per kilogram; carrots before costs P20, now it is sold at P38 per kilogram; while prices for cauliflower and asparagus both increased by P20 per kilo. Cauliflower is now sold at P70, and asparagus costs P50 per kilogram.
Patigas told Sun.Star Davao that prices of these vegetables are expected to increase next week following the huge demand for these agricultural products.
"Prices of potato may be up to P75 per kilo next week," Patigas said, adding that potato is one of the most sold vegetables during Christmas season.
A consumer, who refused to be identified, meantime said in an interview that people should better buy vegetables as early as this week.
"I am residing in Mintal, but I came here just to buy stocks for next week's preparation for Christmas because prices of vegetables in Mintal are very high, higher than prices of vegetables here," she said.
Prices of tropical vegetables decreased like squash, string beans, and ampalaya.
Vendors said tropical vegetables used to become cheaper during Christmas time.
