Saudi Arabia: Skyrocketing tomato prices hit households
The rising prices have been attributed to a shortfall in the local harvest, disruption of imports from Turkey through war-ravaged Syria, and the arrest of expatriate traders of the commodity.
“For more than two weeks now tomatoes have been out of reach for the common consumer,” said Richard Ada, a Filipino expatriate who lives with his family in the city.
It is a matter of concern, said Shaikh Rahmatullah, an Indian expatriate.
Traders at the Sharafiyah vegetable market told Arab News that they are not stocking tomatoes because there are few customers. Others said that they want to get rid of their produce, but this has not seen prices drop. They say that housewives are refusing to buy at the high prices.
Traders at the central vegetable market said that prices would remain high for the next few days until the local harvest production arrives. “We are waiting for the harvest from Al-Kharj near Riyadh. Prices will only drop then,” said an Egyptian business executive.
He said most retailers including leading supermarkets are taking advantage of the situation and raising prices.
Locally harvested tomatoes are available from Taif but are not the quality of those from Jordan and Syria, according to sources.
Source: arabnews.com