Why did lettuce grow?
Traders say there has been a drop in supply in wholesale markets, where they usually get supplies for sale to the public.
The recent harvest did not have the same amount in production and left the greengrocers and supply markets that distribute products throughout the country with little stock of green leafy vegetables.
The reason, they argue, is the instability of the weather of the last month. Let us remember that during January 2022 a historic heat wave affected almost the entire country, which had consequences for plantations and fruit and vegetable production.
In this inclement heat, when Argentina averaged almost 40° temperature for several days and became the hottest place on the planet for a few hours, followed by a wave of relief with rain and hail.
Once again, this climate factor affected the lettuce plantations, many of them flooded, which generated a significant decrease in the harvest of the product throughout the territory.
When will the price drop?
On average, a merchant could acquire the “cage” or box of lettuce in any of its variants (Creole, French, “butter” or nasturtium) in the wholesale market, in the range of 800 to 1000 pesos.
With the effects of the drop in the harvest and the lack of stock, that price shot up 400% in just a few days, reaching the value of that same box in the wholesale market for a few $3,500 to $4,000.
In the City of Buenos Aires, a kilo of lettuce in greengrocers ranged between 600 and 900 pesos, depending on the area.
In the Province, green leafy vegetables had a significant jump in price, between 650 and (unusual) 1,000 pesos per kilo.
After three consecutive weeks, the value of a kilo of the prized vegetable did not drop much and consumers refuse to consume it, surprised by the unusual price.
Since then, the increase in the consumption of other green leafy vegetables began to be noticed, a kind of secondary consumption, to try to compensate for the lack of lettuce in the salad.
Suddenly there was greater demand in the shops of radicchio, arugula, kale, cabbage and the ever-present spinach and Swiss chard.
Lettuce producers assured that this abnormality in the lack of stock will be compensated in the coming weeks. They estimate that only in 15 or 20 days could the supply increase, which will lower the price in stores.
Source: Ambito
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