In terms of sales, domestic fruits such as apples, citrus and pears are popular on the market. Prices of imported fruit is higher than local products during the Spring Festival, but less high than the previous year.
Overall, Chinese fruit prices rose an average of 8% during the holiday season, while imported fruit prices rose an average of 20%. Particularly Chinese red grape varieties were in demand. Their prices rose by 30%. This was followed by Australian mangoes, which witnessed a price increase of 27%.
Dragon fruit prices ballooned with a 50% increase. The majority of this type of fruit is imported from Vietnam. The most popular variety is the white-fleshed variety. Domestic dragon fruit has red flesh. Because supply was short, prices of both the domestic and import varieties went up.
Similar to the fruit prices, all kinds of vegetables were becoming more expensive during the Spring Festival. Especially leafy vegetables were in demand. Vegetable prices increased an average of more than 20%. Cucumber price increased the most with 40%, followed by cabbage (33%).
The extreme low temperatures of last week and the week before were the main cause of the price increases. The cold has damaged big parts of the production and obstructed transport. Leafy vegetables were most hit by the cold.