Tomato price hits as high as P300 per kilo

MANILA, Philippines — The retail prices of tomatoes reached as high as P300 per kilo in Marikina City amid shortage in supply.

The current price of tomato in Marikina City is higher by P70 compared to its previous price of P230, according to monitoring of the Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, the retail prices of tomatoes at New Las Piñas City Public Market ranged between P200 and P210 per kilo; Guadalupe Public Market in Makati City, between P180 and P200 per kilo; San
 Andres Market in Manila, between P200 and P220 per kilo; Quinta Market in Manila, between P180 and P200 per kilo; Pritil Market in Manila, between P180 and P220 per kilo; Pasay City Market, between P170 and P180 per kilo; Pasig City Mega Market, between P170 and P180 per kilo; Commonwealth Market in Quezon City, P180 per kilo; Muñoz Market in Quezon City, between P150 and P160 per kilo; Mega Q-mart in Quezon City, between, P180 to P200 per kilo and Malabon Central Market, between P160 and P180 per kilo.

The wholesale price of the vegetable also remains high at P120 to P130 per kilo, Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT) general manager Gilbert Cumila said in a radio interview.

Cumila added that based on monitoring in Tanauan, Batangas, the wholesale price of tomatoes even reached between P130 and P150 per kilo.

“There is really a shortage in the supply (of tomatoes) Luzon-wide,” Cumila said.

At the same time, the wholesale prices of all vegetables in NVAT also increased, he noted.

“The wholesale price of bell pepper here is between P330 and P360 per kilo. It is really expensive. All the prices of vegetables increased, including eggplant, which is cheaper two weeks ago,” Cumila added.

He said that while vegetables arrived at NVAT every day, the supply fails to meet the demand.

“That’s the reason why prices of vegetables continue to increase, particularly tomatoes,” he said.