Looking at the vegetable market at the moment, demand improved on the markets which caused most prices to increase or at least stabilize. Potato prices increased to R63.34 per 10kg bag, 4% higher week on week. The average Mondial price traded on R63.84 last week while class 1 medium Mondial’s traded between R62 and R67 per 10kg. During May we usually see a slightly higher price, which we did see, but we are expecting potato prices to decrease in June and July due to higher volumes.

Tomato prices also increased last week due to higher demand with the latest price on R8.43 per kilogram and can possibly increase over the next week. However, if we don’t see any weather issues in the Northern production areas, expect prices to come under more pressure during June.

We saw higher carrot volumes on the markets last week which resulted in the price to decrease with 16% to R5.44 per kilogram. Class 1 Large carrot prices decreased to R58 per 10kg on Nile.ag, which was also influenced by higher supplies. We are expecting prices to stay on a lower level during June and July as volumes are likely to increase over this period.

Onion prices stabilized and traded on R151.64 per 10kg bag, which is still near record levels. We are expecting prices to come down from July to September as more volumes are expected to enter into the markets. Brown onion prices decreased to R153, white onions decreased to R149 while red onion prices decreased to R164 per kilogram. Brown class 1 large-medium onions went for between R105 and R110 per 7kg bag on Nile.ag.

Pepper prices decreased to R8.32 last week with green peppers decreasing to R7.22 per kg. Red pepper prices decreased to R8.96 while yellow peppers traded higher on R10.32. Pepper prices are likely to stay on a lower level during June and then start trending upward from July onwards.

Other vegetable prices traded as follows: Cabbages on R3.74, Garlic on R55.89, Spinach R3.49, pumpkin prices lower on R3.45 while sweet potato prices increased to R3.57 last week.