In response to the spike in vegetable prices, with the average wholesale rate reaching NT$63.7 per 600g, over 1,560 supermarkets across Taiwan are set to offer cabbages, both imported and locally sourced, at reduced prices. This initiative comes as Super Typhoon Krathon approaches. According to the Agricultural and Food Agency, the cost for an imported cabbage is around NT$75, whereas a local cabbage is priced at NT$120. The agency has committed to modifying the supply contingent on consumer demand.
The promotion is being launched at numerous retail outlets, including 1,211 PX Marts, 20 RT-Marts, 14 A-Marts, 67 Carrefour wholesale stores, and 250 Carrefour supermarkets. Yao Chih-wang, the agency's deputy director-general, assured that the hike in vegetable prices would not impact the provision of school lunches, attributing the stability to the procurement of ingredients from contracted farms. He highlighted the persistence of high vegetable prices following Typhoon Gaemi in July and subsequent weather challenges that affected crop yields.
The transition from summer to fall also contributes to the instability in vegetable supply due to the shift in crop cultivation. Additionally, the retail prices of certain flowers have seen a notable increase, with chrysanthemum prices jumping from NT$20 to NT$45 per stem, although the prices for orchids and other greenhouse flowers remain stable. Yao mentioned that outdoor flowers like chrysanthemums are priced higher by underwriters due to the anticipated impact of typhoons, suggesting that early harvesting could mitigate damage to these crops.
Source: Taipei Times