Despite end of holidays, vegetable prices remain high

MANILA, Philippines — The retail price of vegetables remained high despite the end of the holidays, with tomatoes reaching P350 per kilo, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Based on the monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of tomatoes even increased by P80 per kilo, compared to its cost of P270 per kilo a week ago.

The DA added that the retail price of siling labuyo or wild chili also reached as high as P900 per kilo.

On the other hand, bell pepper reached P900 per kilo; broccoli, as high as P370 per kilo; cauliflower, P320 per kilo; carrots, as high as P280 per kilo; Baguio beans, as high as P200 per kilo; potatoes, as high as P220 per kilo; cabbage, P150 per kilo and pechay Baguio, as high as P120 per kilo.

Prices of lowland vegetables are also high as bitter gourd is sold as high as P160 per kilo; string beans, as high as P160 per kilo; eggplant, as high as P160 per kilo; pechay Tagalog, as high as P120 per kilo; and squash, as high as P70 per kilo.

Meanwhile, local red onions are sold for as high as P170 per kilo while imported white onions are sold as high as P180 per kilo; imported garlic, as high as P210 per kilo and ginger, as high as P260 per kilo.

The DA blamed the damage brought by the successive typhoons for the spike in the retail price of vegetables.

Tropical cyclones Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito have devastated the country in a span of less than one month in the last quarter of 2024.