Vegetable prices in the Czech Republic are currently around 30 percent higher than last year, according to the statistics office. Czech vegetable producers blame the long drought period last year, and a smaller harvest, for the increase in prices. Prices have been rising for the eighth month in a row. In April, they were 30.7 percent higher than in the same month of the previous year. Potatoes have even increased by 70.2 percent, on average.
On Thursday, the main Czech Radio news channel, Radiožurnál, reported on the price increases. It claimed that one of the Prague supermarkets sold one kilo of onions at 36.90 crowns (1.41 euros), with red onions being even more expensive. For one kilo of potatoes, marketers asked 29.90 crowns (1.15 euros).
Heat wave 2018 is to blame
Chairman of the Association of Vegetable Growers, Petr Hanka, explained the price increases with last year's exceptionally warm and dry weather throughout Europe. This negatively affected yields everywhere, says Hanka.
According to the chief economist of the investment company BH Securities, Štěpán Křeček, prices are unlikely to fall again so quickly. The basic requirements are less drought and a better harvest, says Křeček. Only if the vegetables from this harvest were to come on the market, prices could fall again, said the economist.
Source: Radio Praha