The retail prices of major vegetables have been low, with lettuce at about half the normal price as of last week, due to the recent favorable weather.

However, the prices of vegetables tend to rise toward the end of the year, and the recent cold weather may affect the prices of some vegetables.

Every week, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries checks the retail prices of eight major vegetables at 470 supermarkets nationwide.



According to this, the average retail price for the three days until the 16th of this month was 46% lower than normal for "lettuce", 38% for "Chinese cabbage" and 35% for "cabbage", both of which are normal. It was far below.



In addition, "radish" was 28% cheaper, "tomato" was 19%, "leek" was 9%, "carrot" was 6%, and "onion" was 3%, all eight items were below normal.



In addition to the good weather and good growth since autumn, the decline in demand for restaurants due to the effects of the new coronavirus has also led to low prices.



According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, many items are expected to remain at low prices this month compared to normal years, but vegetables tend to rise toward the end of the year, saying, "There is a cold wave these days. It may affect the price of vegetables in the department. "

The price of vegetables at the supermarket

Will the price of vegetables rise due to the influence of the cold?



At supermarkets in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, the prices of many vegetables are reduced every Tuesday as a special sale day, but on the 22nd, the prices of some vegetables were not reduced, and some of them were increased.



Of these, the price of green onions, which was 98 yen per bundle, was raised to 130 yen, and the price of spinach, which was 98 yen per bundle, was raised to 120 yen.



In addition, although the prices of Chinese cabbage and cabbage were left unchanged, smaller ones were lined up at the store.



According to the supermarket, the cold weather affected the growth of vegetables, and the soil froze and the harvest was delayed, which seems to have led to the rise in purchasing prices.



A woman who visited for shopping said, "Spinach feels expensive when it exceeds 100 yen, so I forgot to buy it today. Due to the influence of the new corona, I am worried about the price increase because I have more opportunities to eat at home. That's it. "



Super Izumi's representative, Gomi Mamoru, said, "Since the purchase of products has decreased in the last few days, we expect the price to rise by 10% to 20%. The store has devised a purchase so that it does not have to raise the price. I want to do it. "