The adequate supply of fruits and vegetables has kept the price of high demand produce such as tomatoes and sweet peppers relatively stable heading into the Christmas period. Some prices have started shifting downward as farmers prepare stock to meet the increased demand.
Consumers heading to market over this week into the weekend can expect to pay an average $400 per pound for produce like gungo peas, sweet peppers, tomatoes and sorrel. However, vendors in the Coronation Market in downtown Kingston warn that if consumers wait until a day or two before Christmas, then they may find themselves paying "last-minute shopping" prices.
Data from the Jamaica Agricultural Market Information Systems showed that consumers who picked up fruits and vegetables over the week to December 2 would have paid the same price for most produce for the week ending December 9. The price of green banana hovered at $110 per kg, one of the lowest priced goods in the market, while produce such as cabbage, callaloo, okra, tomato, sweet pepper (local), cauliflower, bok choi, melon, and papaya remained stable week over week.
[ $100 = € 0.59 ]
Source: jamaicaobserver.com