JEDDAH — Consumers in general are refusing to buy certain leafy vegetables such as lettuce, parsley and watercress because of rumors their farms have been irrigated with polluted water. Ismat Abu Zinadah, head of an organization representing vegetable sellers in Jeddah, has called for setting up a laboratory in the vegetable and fruit market to test the produce. Abu Zinadah said people are keeping away from leafy vegetables despite Jeddah Mayoralty efforts to check the vegetables by inspecting farms producing them. Abu Zinadah said prices at the vegetable market have not gone up. He pointed out some vegetables might not be available in abundance and that could affect prices due to the high demand. He added that a few weeks ago there was a shortage in onion supplies, but after new produce arrived prices returned to their normal level. He said prices are now lower compared to previous seasons. Abu Zinadah said ongoing events in neighboring countries, like Syria, have not affected the fruit and vegetable market as there are a number of alternative countries from which produce is being imported. The quality of produce has also bettered, he added. There has been an increase in the number of refrigerated trucks to transport imports from Egypt, he said. Abu Zinadah sought to lure consumers who used to visit the fruit and vegetable market (Halaqah) but are now going to hypermarkets. He said the Halaqah acts as a wholesaler for hypermarkets as well. Meanwhile, Bassam Akhdar, member of the Jeddah Municipal Council, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the council has discussed with the Jeddah Mayoralty plans to set up a laboratory at the Halaqah. The mayoralty said the contractor who has been assigned to carry out the project has been handed the final designs and will start implementing the scheme soon.
