Why are vegetables in the field so cheap, but still sold at high prices in markets and supermarkets?

Since the Lunar New Year 2021, the price of green vegetables in Nghe An has continuously dropped to the point of "hitting rock bottom". Each kilogram of kohlrabi, cabbage, green onions, chrysanthemums... in key vegetable areas such as Quynh Luu, Dien Chau,Vinh City... only cost from 500 - 1,000 VND when bought at the garden. Because it is too cheap and there are no buyers, many vegetable fields are left fallow, and people do not bother to harvest.

Vegetable prices in the fields are very cheap, forcing organizations to rescue. Photo: Contributor

However, at markets in Vinh City, the price of green vegetables is still high, making consumers worried. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, WardHung Dungsaid: This morning (March 7), I went to Hung Dung market to buy vegetables to cook hotpot for the International Women's Day party on March 8. I saw on the news that vegetable prices were very cheap, but unexpectedly, when I went to the market to buy them, they were still high. For example, cabbage still costs from 7,000 - 10,000 VND/head, kohlrabi from 5,000 - 6,000 VND/root, other vegetables such as Malabar spinach, chrysanthemum, herbs... are still over 10,000 VND/bunch... in total, going to the market costs more than 100,000 VND for vegetables, not cheap...".

At Vinh City markets, vegetable prices are still 5-7 times higher than in the fields. Photo: Nguyen Chau

That is also the common situation in the markets in the area.Vinh Citycurrent time. According to the reporter's records, although in reality, vegetable prices have decreased slightly compared to the time of the recent Lunar New Year, however, compared to the current vegetable prices in the fields, they are still 5-7 times higher.

When asked about the cheap price of vegetables in the field while the price at the market is still expensive, Ms. Mui, a vegetable vendor at Vinh market, explained: "We have to go to the vegetable fields to import the goods, sort them, and then transport them to the market to sell, which takes a lot of effort, not to mention the cost of renting a stall, so it is understandable that the price of vegetables is still high...".

Vegetable prices at supermarkets are listed for people to choose, but are still high. Photo: Nguyen Chau

Not only in markets but also in supermarkets in Vinh City, the prices of green vegetables are still very high. Average vegetables cost over 10,000 VND/package (each package ranges from 300 - 500 grams), in particular, some imported vegetables from other provinces cost from 20,000 - 50,000 VND/kg, higher than in markets or vegetable areas in the area.

Explaining this issue, a supermarket leader said: There are many reasons why the price of green vegetables at supermarkets remains high. Most vegetables are imported fromDalatTherefore, transportation and preservation costs are high (especially during the epidemic season). In addition, cheap vegetables that have to be rescued from the fields are mostly grown by people indiscriminately, and their quality is not controlled. Meanwhile, vegetables sold in supermarkets must have a clear origin and guaranteed quality, so these vegetables will of course be sold at a higher price...

People buy vegetables at a supermarket in Vinh City. Photo: Nguyen Chau

The low price of vegetables in the fields while the prices in the markets and supermarkets are still high has made consumers worried and have to consider and calculate to spend reasonably, especially in the condition that people's income has decreased sharply due to the impact.pandemic.

Some households, instead of buying expensive vegetables, have taken advantage of growing vegetables in their gardens and balcony foam boxes to save costs and ensure safety. Others have chosen to buy vegetables that are being rescued because they are both cheap and a small part of the support for vegetable growers./.