Looking at the vegetable market at the moment, we are still seeing lower demand on the markets which is likely to improve as we head closer to the end of the month. Potato price therefore decreased with the latest national average price on R61.16 per 10kg bag, 2% lower week on week. We are still well above last years levels with prices likely to stay higher due to lower expected volumes over the next month or two. The average Mondial prices traded on R61.30 last week while class 1 medium Mondial’s traded between R65 and R70 per 10kg.

Tomatoes also came under pressure last week with higher volumes reported while the demand was also limited. The latest price traded lower on R7.35 per kilogram and can possibly increase over the next two weeks. However, if we don’t see any weather issues in the Northern production areas, expect prices to come under more pressure during June.

Carrot prices were also negatively influenced by low demand, decreasing by 18% to R6.49 per kilogram the past week alone. Class 1 Large carrots went for R65 per 10kg on Nile.ag. From June to November however, we are expecting significantly lower carrot prices as volumes are likely to increase.

Onion prices, reaching new record levels yet again, traded on R151.75 per 10kg bag, 185% higher than last year. Based on seasonal trends alone , onion prices usually peak in May and June each year. This, coupled with extremely low volumes at the moment can keep prices on these high levels for the next month. We are however expecting prices to come down from July to September as more volumes are expected to enter into the markets. Brown onion prices increased to R157, white onions increased to R151 while red onion prices increased to R168 per kilogram. Brown class 1 large-medium onions went for between R165 and R170 per 10kg on Nile.ag.

Pepper prices decreased to R9.05 last week with green peppers decreasing to R8.01 per kg. Red pepper prices decreased to R9.78 while yellow peppers traded lower on R9.64. Pepper prices are likely to stay on a lower level during May and June and then start trending upward from July onwards.

Other vegetable prices traded as follows: Cabbages on R3.38, Garlic on R61.60, Spinach R3.64, pumpkin prices lower on R3.07 while sweet potato prices increased to R3.65 last week.