Garlic prices have been rising continuously since October 2019 and are much higher than the last two years. Many traders said that although many people have the habit of pickling garlic for the Laba Festival, sales have not increased much. There are not many vendors selling garlic in the market. The retail price in the market is about 7 yuan per half a kilo, higher than the same period last year, and doubled compared with the year before the last.
Garlic prices have shifted significantly over recent years. Generally speaking, 7 yuan per half a kilo is considered a high price. Although garlic is also produced in Anqiu, the acreages there are relatively small. Most of the garlic sold in the market at the moment comes from Jinxiang in Jining and Shanghe in Jinan. When fresh garlic became available in June this year, prices were already higher than last year. Since autumn and winter, prices of dried garlic have naturally risen even further. Many traders purchase fresh crops and put them into cold storage, and sell them when prices are high in autumn and winter.
Some traders said that the price increases have lasted for more than three months. When fresh garlic first became available in June 2019, its prices experienced a "roller coaster", which first increased and then fell. Since October, prices have been rising continuously, with half a kilo of ginger reaching 6 yuan in mid-November. Since December, the increases have slowed down.
Source: Today's Headlines