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Fresh veggie prices soared 10% in Sept.
Israel
Thursday 25 October 2007
The price of fresh vegetables has been climbing and it isn't about to stop. In September, vegetable prices surged 9.9 percent.
The worst offender was tomatoes, which rose to an average of 1,02 EUR per kilo in open-air markets and supermarkets. That's 58 percent more than in June of this year, when tomatoes cost 0,65 EUR per kilo on average. Cherry tomatoes brought no succor to lycophene-starved households: They averaged 1,55 EUR a kilo in September.
The Agriculture Ministry says the reason for the surge in vegetable prices, which isn't typical for the fall, is heightened demand coupled with climactic problems. The relatively hot weather in spring impaired the fertility of the plants, most notably cucumbers and tomatoes.
Figures from the first half of October show no relief for households. Tomatoes edged up to 1,55 EUR per kilo, on average, while cherry tomatoes clawed up to 1,60 EUR per kilo, on average.
The behavior of vegetable prices naturally affected the index of fresh produce, which rose by 3.3 percent in September, while the broad consumer price index fell by 0.5 percent.
Altogether, the prices of agricultural produce have risen by 7.4 percent in the last few months.
Another problem is that the higher the prices for fresh produce, the greater the costs for producing dairy, meat, eggs, poultry and beef. Farmers note that seeds have also become more expensive, in part because certain crops are heavily in demand not only to feed man and beast, but biodiesel plants as well.
During the first three quarters of 2007, the index of fresh produce rose by 11.7 percent, while the consumer price index rose by a much more moderate 2.5 percent.
The worst offender was tomatoes, which rose to an average of 1,02 EUR per kilo in open-air markets and supermarkets. That's 58 percent more than in June of this year, when tomatoes cost 0,65 EUR per kilo on average. Cherry tomatoes brought no succor to lycophene-starved households: They averaged 1,55 EUR a kilo in September.
The Agriculture Ministry says the reason for the surge in vegetable prices, which isn't typical for the fall, is heightened demand coupled with climactic problems. The relatively hot weather in spring impaired the fertility of the plants, most notably cucumbers and tomatoes.
Figures from the first half of October show no relief for households. Tomatoes edged up to 1,55 EUR per kilo, on average, while cherry tomatoes clawed up to 1,60 EUR per kilo, on average.
The behavior of vegetable prices naturally affected the index of fresh produce, which rose by 3.3 percent in September, while the broad consumer price index fell by 0.5 percent.
Altogether, the prices of agricultural produce have risen by 7.4 percent in the last few months.
Another problem is that the higher the prices for fresh produce, the greater the costs for producing dairy, meat, eggs, poultry and beef. Farmers note that seeds have also become more expensive, in part because certain crops are heavily in demand not only to feed man and beast, but biodiesel plants as well.
During the first three quarters of 2007, the index of fresh produce rose by 11.7 percent, while the consumer price index rose by a much more moderate 2.5 percent.
