Consumers and vendors from the Farmer's Market of Turmero complained about the high price of tomatoes, which increased by up to 50%.
Consumers also complained about the price increases every week.
Vendors and consumers attributed the increase in the price of a kilo of tomatoes from 70 to 140 bolivars to the rains that hit the country in recent weeks. The kilo of onion also increased to 120 bolivars, paprika to140 bolivars, and sweet pepper to 80 bolivars. Hence, consumers are paying more and buying less.
Despite this, many buyers say that the municipal markets are still cheaper than the private supermarket chains, where vegetables are unattainable due to their exorbitant prices.
This has lead consumers to search for options where they can stretch their money. In the municipal markets the price of onion varies between 80, 90 and 100 bolivars per kilo, tomatoes range between 80 and 100 bolivars; potatoes can be bought from 40 bolivars, carrots between 40, 50 or 60 bolivars; paprika, between 70 and 60 bolivars; peeled garlic from 300 bolivars, and avocado, from 100 bolivars.
"There's not much production"
According to José Hernández, a vendor, the increase in prices is due to the season and the effect that the weather has had on production. "I just bought 20 kilos of tomatoes for 1,800 bolivars and I used to pay 800 or 1,000 bolivars for that quantity," he said.
It should be noted that fruit and vegetables represent at least 23% of what families spend on their monthly food basket.
Source: elsiglo.com.ve/