The Department of Agriculture (DA) anticipates a decrease in the retail price of tomatoes within the next one to two weeks following a recent surge to P180 per kilo. DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa linked the price increase to the adverse weather conditions caused by Typhoon Aghon. De Mesa highlighted that the excessive rainfall impacted tomato crops, particularly in the Southern Tagalog region, disrupting the growth of not only tomatoes but also other vegetables like eggplant and chili. Current retail prices have been observed to range from P110 to P180 per kilo, marking an increase from the previous week's P70 to P140.
Gilbert Cumila, the general manager of the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT), noted that while the supply of tomatoes remains adequate, the competition among wholesalers has led to a price hike, with wholesale prices now between P70 and P110 per kilo. Despite this, De Mesa confirmed that there is no shortage of supply in key areas including Central and Northern Luzon, as well as Metro Manila. The NVAT serves as a crucial hub for vegetable distribution in these regions.
De Mesa further mentioned that prices at trading centers typically fall below those in retail markets, listing other major vegetable trading hubs such as La Trinidad, Sariaya, and Tanauan. In a contrasting scenario from earlier in 2023, farmers faced challenges due to an oversupply of tomatoes, resulting in instances where produce was discarded.
[ P10 = €0.16 ]
Source: philstar.com