Prices for fruits, vegetables drop at Central Market

Fresh vegetables and fruits at the Central Market have become a little cheaper this year as compared to the same period of 2015, official figures show.

The Peninsula reports that the price trends of fresh vegetables and fruits in the third week of last month (from February 14 to 20) show that the former were four percent cheaper while the latter, six percent in a year.

Comparative prices of fresh vegetables and fruits ruling at the Central Market were given for the third week of February 2015 and 2016 by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce in a report yesterday.

But fish has become dearer now as compared to the corresponding period of last year, as reflected by the ministry figures.

Fish prices have risen 10 percent from a year ago but the rates of the most popular fish Hamour and a delicacy loved by Qataris, fell by eight percent.

Some vegetables that have become expensive in a year include carrot, cucumber, Saudi cauliflower, Chinese garlic and Jordanian lettuce. The vegetables that witnessed a decline in pricing are Chinese ginger, Qatari Khoosa, tomato and capsicum. 

The fruits that became dearer include Egyptian strawberry, Turkish lemon and Lebanese orange (Clementine) .

However, American and Lebanese pear, Indian pomegranate, Philippines banana, Pakistani orange, and Chinese apple became cheaper.

Fish such as Safi, Al Rabib, Al Shari, Al Balul, Al Khabat, Al Naisar and Al Khofar of local variety became expensive. Hamour fish recorded a decline in prices from QR32 per kg earlier last year to QR30 currently.

(Cover image courtesy: Natalie Maynor)