Shoppers are being warned to prepare for a huge increase in fruit and vegetable prices because of short supply from exporting countries which have already increased the cost of their fruits and vegetables. The price tag of some fruits and vegetables can go up by 100 percent within a few days, fruit and vegetable traders, who preferred to be anonymous, said. The high demand by the European markets coupled with the end of season of some fruits and vegetables were said to have caused the short supply and upcoming hefty price increases. The traders said they have tried to slash the prices to an acceptable level in the local market, but recent confirmations from exporters to hold shipments of some fruits and vegetables as their season has already wrapped up will hike the prices to a new high, they said. Although the shortfall will encourage more locally grown fruits and vegetables, the traders feared an organized monopoly to hike the prices of local produce. They said they have already stopped importing malukhyia (Or Jew's mallow) and beans until June because of increasing prices. They expected that a lot of people would go ‘oh too much' and they would put it back, some wouldn't even touch, which would eventually cause the produce to rot. A vegetable and fruit importing company said that the price of one box of malukhyia weighing 8 kg has gone up to SR50 from SR24. The traders, however, expect the prices to go cheaper in the beginning of the fall season. - Okaz __
