Phua says customers say the prices of vegetables is still high despite dipping slightly in August.
PRICES of vegetables in Johor have gone down slightly this month compared to June and July.
However, vegetable seller Phua Ming Hui said the current prices were still higher than they were in April and May.
“Demand for greens was low in April and May, hence they were cheaper during Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” he said when met at the temporary Perling market in Johor Baru.
Phua said fresh red chillies were now selling for RM22 per kilogramme (kg) compared to RM25 per kg two months ago, kangkong from RM10 per kg to RM9, while Beijing round cabbage was RM6 per kg from RM6.50 previously.
“There are no changes in the price of Cameron Highlands round cabbage, which has remained at RM7 per kg for almost three months.”
He said cucumbers went down from RM6.50 per kg previously to RM6, long beans at RM8 from RM12, and pak choy at RM9 from RM10 per kg.
Long purple brinjal is selling at RM10 per kg (RM12 previously), and ladies’ fingers from RM13 to RM12 per kg now.
“But most of the customers have expressed their unhappiness as the prices of vegetables are still about 20% higher compared with the prices in April and May,’’ he added.
Vegetable wholesaler Vira Tarhin said the supply of vegetables had stabilised in Johor since July.
“But vegetable sellers are buying less from us as customers are also buying less veggies,’’ he said.
Vira said the wholesale price of fresh local chillies from Batu Pahat and Kulai was about RM20 per kg, down from RM22.
While the price of fresh red chillies from Cameron Highlands was about 20% cheaper, consumers in Johor preferred red chillies grown in Batu Pahat and Kulai, Johor.
He said the wholesale prices of vegetables in August had declined between 10% and 20%.
“There is not much difference in the retail prices of greens in the market and it is the customer’s choice whom they want to buy the produce from,” he added.
Although prices of vegetables had stabilised for now, Vira said it was largely determined by weather conditions.
“The prices may go up again when the harvest is low due to bad weather, or go down if there is excess supply,” he said.
Johor and Pahang are the country’s two main vegetable producers, with most of the farms located in Batu Pahat and Simpang Renggam as well as Cameron Highlands respectively.
Phua says customers say the prices of vegetables is still high despite dipping slightly in August.
Vira (right) says prices of vegetables may go up again if harvest is poor due to bad weather.
