Veggie prices up slightly in wake of typhoon

While the storm left little damage in its wake, prices of vegetables sold at traditional markets still went up as wholesalers anticipated stronger demand over the next few days. Price instability in the wake of the three typhoons that ravaged parts of Taiwan in August also played a part in the price increase yesterday, market watchers said.

Despite business closings in northern Taipei yesterday, most traditional markets opened after their regular day off on Monday. Consumers rushing to the markets found cabbage was sold for NT$55 per Taiwanese kilogram, up slightly from their regular price.

Cucumbers, bitter melons and tomatoes were sold for NT$55 to NT$60 per Taiwanese kilogram, and carrots and radishes were sold for NT$30 — all higher than their regular prices.

The produce that saw the most price increase was red/yellow peppers, which were sold for NT$150 to NT$180 per Taiwanese kilogram. The price increase caught many consumers by surprise.

“Peppers were sold for NT$130 just over the weekend. What a difference a few days makes,” exclaimed a consumer surnamed Liu.

As it turned out, Liu bought three peppers, plus one cabbage, four tomatoes, and three heads of broccoli. Together she spent NT$490 just for these items.

“How fast my NT$500 bill is gone,” she sighed.

In hypermarkets, however, it’s a different story as operators sold vegetables at discounted prices to draw crowds during yesterday’s typhoon break.

Geant’s Tachih branch, for example, offered leafy vegetables for NT$9 a stalk. The promotion immediately drew a large number of people and helped fill up the store’s parking lot in no time.

“The supply of leafy vegetables totaled 15,000 stalks yesterday,” said Geant public relations specialist Yin Hao. “The NT$9 promotion was only offered at our Tachih branch. All the other branches are still selling leafy vegetables at the regular price of NT$12.”

RT-Mart, meanwhile, said supply of leafy vegetables totaled 75 tons, more than three times that for a regular weekday.

Visitors were about twice the number for a weekday, the hypermarket said.

In a related story, prices of barbecue foods have gone up by as much as 20 percent compared to last year, said Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Co., attributing the hike to supply shortage in the wake of the three typhoons that struck Taiwan in August, plus a general price increase in raw materials.

Yams, for example, are sold for a wholesale price of NT$20 per kilogram, which nearly doubled the NT$11 for last year.

Prices of bamboo shoots, mushrooms and corn have also gone up by 20 percent, if not more.

As for meats and seafood — the main ingredients of any barbecues — a price increase is noticeable, too. Squid of 120 to 130 grams is sold for NT$20, about NT$5 higher than last year.

A price increase is also seen for pork slices, Australian lamb chops, U.S. beef, chicken and New Zealand rib-eye steak.

Prawns are sold for NT$200 per Taiwanese kilogram, making them one of the most expensive seafood items.

Taiwanese people have formed the habit of having barbecues on Mid-Autumn Festival, which this year falls on Sept. 25.

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