Vegetable prices double as weather hits output

Shopping at a traditional market on Wednesday, Hanh of Go Vap District was aghast to see the prices of vegetables.

She found most varieties of tomatoes being sold at VND50,000 (US$1.97) per kilogram, with beef tomato, a premium variety, costing VND80,000.

"Beef tomato is now even more expensive than chicken [at VND70,000 per kilogram]," she said.

This is twice the price that prevailed at the beginning of the year and 15% higher than a year ago.

Greens like lettuce, watercress and spinach have also seen prices double to VND50,000-70,000 per kilogram.

Green onions and other seasoning herbs are 50% up this year and 15% since last year.

Loan, a vegetable vendor at Phu Nhuan District’s Ba Chieu Market, said supply has been low in recent weeks.

She used to buy several kilograms of spinach daily, but can now find none.

Xuan, chairwoman of a vegetable cooperative in Da Lat, said crop yields have been low due to bad weather.

The city’s main vegetable suppliers, such as its own Cu Chi District and Lam Dong Province, home to Da Lat, have experienced a 20-30% decline in yields this year due to the weather.

Nguyen Binh Phuong, deputy CEO of the company that runs the city’s Thu Duc Agricultural Product Market, said the tomato harvest season would begin in a week and so prices are expected to fall.

Last quarter the country imported $134 million worth of vegetables and fruits, up 4% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.