In recent days, vegetable prices have been on the rise in various parts of China. In Hefei’s Shushan District, the price of leafy vegetables has increased from an average of 2 to 3 yuan per half kilogram to over 5 yuan per half kilogram, with some even reaching prices typically seen only during the Chinese New Year. On August 15th, “One kilogram of cucumbers in Shanghai costing 6.3 yuan” became a hot trend.
According to official information from Shanghai Television News Integrated Channel’s WeChat account, cucumber prices in Shanghai rose from 1.8 yuan per half kilogram in mid-June to 4.6 yuan per half kilogram at the end of July, and had reached 6.3 yuan per half kilogram by August 14th. Lettuce prices also increased from over 2 yuan per half kilogram to over 4 or 5 yuan per half kilogram.
A video filmed by a netizen in Shanghai showed price tags in a supermarket displaying mushroom at 7.80 yuan per half kilogram, shiitake mushrooms at 15.80 yuan per half kilogram, flat beans at 14.80 yuan per half kilogram, kidney beans at 13.80 yuan per half kilogram, and Dutch beans at 13.80 yuan per half kilogram, among others.
Netizens from various regions commented that vegetable prices in their cities were also skyrocketing. Cucumbers in Zhejiang were priced at 9 yuan per half kilogram, water spinach at 6 yuan per half kilogram, cucumbers in Liaoning at 9 yuan per half kilogram, cucumbers in Jining at 6 yuan per half kilogram, chili peppers in Wuxi at 9.88 yuan per half kilogram, and green beans in Hubei at 7 yuan per half kilogram. A netizen from Shandong commented, “Cucumbers in Zibo, Shandong now cost 6 yuan per half kilogram. I’m 50 years old, and it’s the first time I’ve seen cucumber prices like this in summer.”
Netizens from Yunnan also expressed their concerns, saying, “Peaches in Yunnan used to be priced at 5 to 6 yuan per half kilogram. Now they are selling for 13 to 15 yuan per half kilogram. It’s becoming unaffordable. Watermelons that were around 2.5 yuan per half kilogram last year are now selling for 3.8 to 8 yuan per half kilogram.”
In Beijing, a netizen mentioned, “Cucumbers at the market have gone from 2 yuan per half kilogram to 7 yuan, water spinach from 2 yuan to 6 yuan, green peppers from 2 yuan to 5 yuan; eggplants are okay, going from 1.8 yuan per half kilogram to 2.8 yuan.”
In a supermarket on Wangjiang West Road in Shushan District, broad beans were priced at 12.8 yuan per half kilogram, with pork starting at 15 yuan per half kilogram. The price of broad beans is almost on par with that of pork. A store clerk told the media that in the case of leafy vegetables, prices have risen from an average of 2 to 3 yuan per half kilogram to over 5 yuan per half kilogram, with some vegetables reaching prices seen only during the Chinese New Year.
Furthermore, starting from July this year, out of 28 common vegetables in Sichuan, 14 showed a significant increase in local prices. Among them, the prices of mustard greens, cucumbers, eggplants, scallions, and lotus roots rose by over 50%. This upward trend continued into August.
Netizens expressed their concerns, stating, “If vegetable prices continue to rise, it will cost a fortune just to eat!””The local price of cucumbers at 2 yuan should include picking fees, but the retail price is over 7 yuan, why is there such a big difference?””Meat is now 20 yuan per half kilogram, pork ribs are 31 yuan per half kilogram, even watermelons are 4.98 yuan per half kilogram, we really can’t afford anything anymore.””What kind of world is this?””We really can’t afford to buy vegetables at the supermarket anymore, I’m really scared for winter, what will we do if there are no vegetables to eat when the time comes?”
Some experts explained that the rise in vegetable prices is due to recent heavy rainfall causing flooding in some producing areas, followed by high temperatures leading to a significant decrease in vegetable yields.