Venezuelan merchants have confirmed the decrease in prices of apples, pears and grapes, amongst others. One can buy a kilo of large red apples at $33 bolivares at the Bicentenario supermarkets, while the Gala apples and the pears are at 38.50 bolivares. "They were at $90 bolivares in the second half of November," said the manager of a branch. An employee at Excelsior Gama said that the price of the gala apple had fallen to $20 three weeks ago, and was currently at $47,25, "it was being sold at $200 in the beginning of November." All the different varieties of apples are being sold at $38.80 per kilo in Madeirense.
The pear's price has also dropped. Madeirense is selling them at $38.80, and Bicentenario at 38.50. Pears and apple prices at the greengrocers have also decreased and currently range between 60 and 80 bolivares per kilo.
The price of grapes also fell. The red globe variety, which, two weeks ago, was being sold at $117, is now at $50 per kilo; in Madeiran it dropped from $249 to 149, and the average price at the greengrocers is $145.
People in the markets believe this drop is a result of the audits undertaken by the Government. "Even though they haven't been audited, distributors suddenly lowered their prices," said the owner of greengrocer in Chacao.
"There wasn't much demand for apples and pears before, but now they only last a few minutes in the refrigerators," said the people from the supermarkets.
Source: Elmundo.com.ve