Market Overview
As we enter the third week of September, demand across the vegetable markets remains weak, while volumes for key commodities like potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and carrots are still high. This imbalance is adding pressure to most vegetable prices.
At the same time, butternuts and pumpkins stand out as the star performers, with prices skyrocketing on the back of reduced plantings and tight supply.
Weekly Vegetable Price Movements
- Potatoes: ↑ 3% to R41.97 per 10kg
- Onions: ↓ to R48.49 per 10kg
- Tomatoes: ↓ sharply to R5.35 per kg
- Carrots: ↑ to R5.10 per kg
- Peppers: steady at R25 per kg
- Cabbages: ↓ to R1.64 per kg
- Sweet Potatoes: ↑ to R5.26 per kg
- Spinach: ↓ to R2.10 per kg
- Butternuts: ↑ to R11.66 per kg
- Pumpkins: ↑ sharply to R7.72 per kg
- Garlic: ↓ to R74.23 per kg
- Green Beans: ↓ to R10.13 per kg
- Cucumbers: steady at R12.37 per kg
Spotlight on Butternuts and Pumpkins
This week’s headline story comes from the butternut and pumpkin markets.
- Butternuts are trading at R11.66/kg, about 165% higher than last year. The key driver here is supply shortages: last year’s very low prices discouraged farmers from planting, and weather-related challenges further reduced yields. As a result, market stock is now 28% lower year-on-year.
- Pumpkins are following the same pattern, averaging R6.47/kg, which is 180% higher year-on-year, also with volumes down 28%.
This is a textbook example of the agricultural cycle: low prices → fewer plantings → shortages → sharp price increases the following season.
👉 For growers, this is one of the most profitable selling periods in years.
👉 For retailers and buyers, however, the combination of weak demand and extremely high prices creates tough conditions.
Prices for both butternuts and pumpkins are expected to remain at record levels through September and October, with some relief possible once new season volumes arrive from early November.
Broader Vegetable Market Outlook
Looking ahead:
- Weak demand is likely to persist as we move further into September.
- Large volumes of potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and carrots continue to enter the market, which will keep prices under pressure.
- Potatoes pose the biggest risk, as Limpopo is expected to deliver massive volumes in October and November, likely pushing prices down even further.
- The sudden seasonal shift from winter to summer in the northern regions may add pressure in the short term as more volumes reach the market, but could also create shortages and quality challenges later in the season — an opportunity for farmers who can maintain consistency.
Final Thoughts
The vegetable markets are under pressure from weak demand and heavy supply for most commodities, while butternuts and pumpkins are benefiting from tight supply and soaring prices. For farmers, this presents both risks and opportunities depending on crop type and timing.
This update was proudly brought to you by Villa Crop Protection.
For more detail and in-depth forecasts, download the latest Weekly Vegetables Report at amtrends.co.za
I’m Dr. Johnny van der Merwe — thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next week.