Vegetable prices continued to increase in August throughout Hubei. In early September the supply volume of autumn vegetables increased and the price stabilized in most of China, but not in Hubei. Vegetables from elevated production areas in Hubei have supplied the market for more than three months and are now approaching the end of their season. The supply volume significantly decreased and this caused continued fluctuation in market conditions and prices for vegetables from elevated production areas in Hubei this week (September 3-7).
The price increase of green peppers was relatively high. The reasons for this development are as follows: the main supply of green peppers comes from elevated production areas in Yichang and Enshi, both in Hubei. Their supply entered the market in June, but has suffered from poor weather conditions right from the beginning. Long periods in June were cold and overcast with rain. Many green pepper seedlings decomposed in damp weather conditions. Additional seedlings were planted, but of course they took longer to mature. The weather in July and August was hot and dry, with rain and drought taking turns. This further decreased the green pepper production volume and the farmer's income.
The early-season green peppers leave the market in early September and so the overall green pepper supply volume decreased. The development of late-season green peppers slows down in the colder weather of September, which further decreases the production volume. Green peppers from Lanling in Shandong previously supplemented the local green peppers in Hubei markets, but this year the Lanling green peppers are also delayed. There are currently only green peppers from elevated production areas in Hubei as green peppers from other production areas have not yet entered the market. The reduced supply volume from local production areas is the main reason for the price increase of green peppers in Hubei.
Source: Wuhan Baishazhou Market