Wang Yuanyuan
FOOD prices in Shenzhen were expected to rise during the Spring Festival holidays because of the cold weather and increases in costs, farm produce markets said yesterday.
The average wholesale price of leafy vegetables has increased by 50 percent to about 2.95 yuan (US$0.45) per 500 grams compared with last month and a further rise is expected in the coming weeks.
The average price of cabbage is now 2.98 yuan for 500 grams, while the average price of spinach was about 4.18 yuan for 500 grams, said Lin Shaoru, a manager of the Buji Farm Produce Wholesale Market.
Some organic vegetables such as hotbed chives are now selling at 27 yuan per 500 gram.
The prices of garlic, potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes had also increased by about 30 percent over last month, Lin said.
Shenzhen was selling about 3,300 tons of vegetables a day and price hikes were mainly due to increases in transport and labor costs, Lin said. The decrease in supplies due to the cold weather and increased demand has also resulted in price hikes.
The average price of edible oil also increased by 10 percent compared with last month because of sharp increases in raw materials. Arawana Brand oil was selling for about 11.35 yuan a liter. However, the market said oil prices would not rise sharply because of price controls imposed by the Central Government.
Prices of eggs and frozen chicken had increased by about 4 percent, but sales had fallen since last month because many factories and companies had closed their dining halls after migrant workers returned home for the Spring Festival, Lin said. The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 3.
Fruit prices has also increased, with the average price of imported fruit increasing by at least 30 percent over last month. Kiwi fruit was selling for 8.3 yuan each, 28 percent more than last month, while wax apples were 40.2 yuan per kilogram, an increase of 34 percent.
