Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, is advising consumers to exercise care when shopping for fruits and vegetables this Christmas season.
He made the plea during a press briefing providing updates about the sector’s performance at the Ministry’s Hope Complex office in St. Andrew on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
Minister Green highlighted disparities with prices, adding that while price increases are unavoidable, the hikes in prices are usually found at the retail level as opposed to the farm gate level.
“For example, when we look at the average price for local Plummy Tomato, which is about $660 per kg. However, in the Kingston Metropolitan area, the same commodity is sold at an average price of $1694 per kg, with prices climbing to as high as $2070 per kg,” the agriculture minister pointed out.
He said consumers should also be mindful of price variations between retailers, adding that if they are not prudent in their decision-making, they can “face the brunt of very high prices.”
“At one retailer we found that string beans was being retailed for $1319 per kg, while at another retailer in the Kingston Metropolitan area it is was being retailed for $2321 per kg. That’s a 76% price difference between outlets,” Minister Green highlighted.
It is based on this premise and the fact that some sellers often “capitalize on the peak Christmas demand to maximize profits” that the Minister is encouraging consumers to shop around.
“Prices differ significantly between markets and supermarkets, and taking the time to compare prices can result in major savings. Market spaces typically offer fresh produce at lower prices than some of our retail outlets, and where possible, consumers should look to the markets and also, if you have access, buy directly from farmers,” he advised.
The agriculture minister said that consumers should consult the data provided by the Jamaica Agricultural Marketing Information System (JAMIS), which can be found in major newspapers and on the Ministry’s website at www.moa.gov.jm, for credible information and updates on prices at the farm gate and supermarket levels.
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