Singapore mandarins to cost more for CNY
Cold Storage had earlier said that Typhoon Megi, which hit Taiwan last September, and frost in China this month had caused a 20 per cent drop in supply of the fruit. The drop in supply and the increased demand for the holiday have caused the prices to rise significantly.
This has translated into a 15 per cent price hike for the ponkan variety, while prices of its 10 other varieties of mandarin oranges - from China, Taiwan and Pakistan - have stayed about the same, said a Cold Storage spokesman.
Another festive fruit, the pomelo, which symbolises prosperity, is also in shorter supply, as an earlier Chinese New Year means the fruit has less time to reach maturity. Pomelo harvests are down by 20 to 30 per cent, said a Sheng Siong spokesman. But the chain has kept prices the same as last Chinese New Year.
Festive plants such as kumquats and pussy willows, however, have been spared the price hikes with nurseries noting that supplies from China, Taiwan and Malaysia were stable. Demand for these plants is expected to pick up from this weekend onwards.
source: straittimes.com
