As meat, fish, and poultry prices increased, Venezuelan consumers have been choosing to eat more fruits and vegetables. However, this option is becoming harder as fruit and vegetable prices increase. Consumers and vendors of fruits and vegetables at the shops and the Quinta Crespo market agreed that vegetable prices were increasing every week, on average, by 20%.
"Depending on the product, vegetable prices increase between 10 and 40% in each weekly dispatch of trucks. Thus, it’s impossible to keep prices stable for the public, which rightly complain," said a salesman from Quinta Crespo who asked not to mention his name.
Maria Ribas, a housewife, stated: "I survive with these prices. Vegetables are no longer the cheapest option but, compared to meat, I still prefer them to stretch the family budget." She also added that farm products increased between 15 and 20% per week and that no salary could keep up with those increases.
Another method being used by consumers to face inflations are retail purchases. "It happened last year, but it’s become the norm this year: people only take one or two tomatoes, one pepper, three potatoes, one onion, one banana. They no longer buy per kilo," said the owner of a greengrocer who requested anonymity. He added that this behaviour led to a drop in sales, so they were buying fewer sacks and crates so the vegetables wouldn’t decompose.
Another trader said that, due to the costumer’s needs, they were selling certain fruits, such as watermelon, cantaloupe and papaya, in slices of 250 and 500 grams (the price per kilo is 220, 190 and 200 Bolivars, respectively). Other fruits, such as plantains and bananas, were sold by unit at 40 and 20 bolivars.
Per item
Last week the price of cassava, currently the favourite product as it is the most economical, was 120 bolivars per kilo. However, yesterday its price in Quinta Crespo and at the greengrocers was 150 bolivars. Celery, taro and yam rose by 20, 30 and 40 bolivars respectively and are now being sold for 190 bolivars (celery), 150 bolivars (taro and yam) in Quinta Crespo.
Potato prices, although expensive, remained between 300 and 330 bolivars and 270 and 290 bolivars per kilogram in the municipal market and at the greengrocers. According to retailers and consumers, onion prices continually increase: yesterday, it was being sold at 480 in the shops and 460 in Quinta Crespo. Paprika now costs 380 and 360 bolivars, 20 bolivars more than in the previous week.
Data
Yesterday, the kilo of garlic cost 1,800 bolivars, 300 bolivars more than in the previous week. Given this price, the public chooses to only buy a bulb of garlic.
Source: entornointeligente.com (with information from El Nacional)