The demand for fruits and vegetables has increased in Colombia since the government declared the health emergency and forced the confinement of the population, as can be confirmed in the different supply centers of Bogota, Cali, Barranquilla, and Medellin, among other places. During this period, online sales of fresh products and the negotiation of organic products have experienced a significant rebound.
Due to the boom that in online business, the Ministry of Agriculture adapted its contract agriculture strategy to a virtual commerce model that to date already has 12 electronic commerce platforms.
In addition, 1,341 companies from the agro-industrial sector are in the Compra lo Nuestro platform of Colombia Productiva and the Ministry of Commerce, where they have the possibility of marketing their products.
The most popular products
According to Pedro Triviño, price coordinator for Corabastos, Bogotá's central supply market, since the quarantine began demand has been high for most of the basic food basket products. According to Triviño, the most demanded perishable products are plantain, tomato, white onion, banana, orange, pineapple, and papaya. "The price of the Harton plantain and cassava increased due to the increase in demand. Currently, however, the offer is high and the price has already decreased," he added.
Edgar Lopez, advisor to the Association of merchants of Santa Elena's market in Cali (Asosantaelena), said that the demand for Harton plantain, Tahiti lime, and Creole, Capira, and Pastusa potatoes had increased in Cali. "In general, Santa Elena market's food income increased by 6% since the quarantine was declared," Lopez said.
According to reports from the Central Mayorista de Antioquia, Medellin's main food market, some of the foods that kept their prices stable and that have been sold the most are Creole bananas, broccoli, white onion, spinach, strawberry, green beans, pomegranate, green beans, ginger, Tahiti lime, melon, Capira potato, and pineapple, among others.
The prices of cucumber, avocado, paprika, unica potato, orange, red onion, lemon, and mandarins fell in Barranquilla's Granabastos market.
Source: agronegocios.co
