Consumers told to brace for higher fruit, vegetable prices as Christmas approaches

Severe weather conditions over the past month along with challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic has caused vegetable prices across Jamaica to rise by an average 50 per cent in one week, November 14 to 21.

Xavier Charvis, marketing officer at Rural Agricultural Development Authority, RADA, is advising consumers to brace for further increases in the price of both fruits and vegetables in the upcoming festive season.

Prices on produce ranged from $80 to $575 per pound as at November 21, but the largest increases were seen among vegetables, such as cabbage, romaine lettuce, sweet pepper, pak choi and string beans, according to data from the Jamaica Agricultural Market Information Systems, or JAMIS.

Conversely, prices of most fruits trended downward over the week ending November 21, including watermelon, cantaloupe, sorrel and papaya.

Green banana was the only produce that had its price unchanged week over week.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20201125/consumers-told-brace-higher-fruit-vegetable-prices-christmas-approaches