Vegetable prices near Tet suddenly 'cool down'

During Tet, demand increases but vegetable prices in the markets drop sharply. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In the days leading up to Tet, the local markets are bustling with buyers and sellers. While the prices of foods such as pork, beef, chicken, etc. have increased slightly, the prices of green vegetables have decreased.

According to a survey, some leafy vegetables such as chrysanthemum greens, sweet potato leaves, sweet cabbage, and squash shoots cost only 25,000 VND/kg (down by half, or even a third, compared to a few weeks ago); prices of tubers and fruits such as squash, carrots, and potatoes range from 15,000-20,000 VND/kg (down 5,000 VND/kg); snow peas and kohlrabi decreased by 5,000-10,000 VND/kg.

The price of leafy vegetables has dropped by half, or even a third, compared to before. Only tubers and fruits have decreased slightly. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In rural markets, vegetable prices are quite cheap, accordingly, Malabar spinach and squash shoots cost only 5,000-7,000 VND/bunch; chrysanthemum greens, sweet potato leaves, and Chinese cabbage cost only 1,500-3,500 VND/bunch.

Ms. Dang Thi Tuyet, a vegetable trader at Quan Lau market (Truong Thi ward, Vinh city) said: “As Tet approaches, the demand for green vegetables increases but the prices have cooled down compared to before. This is due to a more abundant supply as the winter vegetable harvest has begun. Most vegetables have decreased in price, but the biggest decrease is in leafy vegetables; tubers and fruits have only decreased slightly because these are easy to preserve and can be kept for a long time, so people buy more for Tet.”

Currently, the growing areas are in the midst of harvesting winter-spring vegetables. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Not only are the prices cheaper, but the vegetables are also more diverse, fresher and tastier, and the amount of vegetables coming to the markets is also greater than before. “A few weeks ago, going to the market to buy vegetables was a matter of consideration, and it was difficult to eat hot pot because the prices of vegetables were too expensive. Now, at the end of the year, near Tet, the prices of vegetables have dropped sharply, so it is easy to choose,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, a housewife.

Contrary to previous years, the price of green vegetables increased sharply near Tet, lasting until the end of summer, but this year, the price of vegetables cooled down, many types of vegetables had a sharp decrease in price. The reason for this "abnormality" is that this year, in many areas growing Tet flowers, unseasonal rain caused flooding and total loss, so in order to be on time, people switched to planting vegetables to serve the Tet market. This is also the peak time for harvesting winter-spring vegetables (due to unusual weather, the harvest was later than usual). Therefore, the supply of vegetables in the province is quite abundant.

Vegetable supply is quite abundant. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In addition, since January 8, 2023, China has reopened, so the amount of vegetables from China has also increased, helping to cool down vegetable prices quickly. Currently, Chinese cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage, white radish, carrots, fresh mushrooms, etc. are sold in large quantities in the markets. The abundant supply has caused vegetable prices to "cool down" quickly.