Fruit and vegetables sold at Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo (Ceagesp) were on average 4.57% cheaper than in December, according to the Ceagesp Index. In the last 12 months, the rate indicates a decline of 3.92%. However, the company's forecast is for an increase in February, as the more concentrated rains at the end of January affected vegetable crops.
In the analysis of Ceagep economist Flávio Godas, this “predicted increase is an absolutely normal situation for the summer, which is characterized by excessive rain and high temperatures, a combination that is extremely harmful for vegetable production”. He noted, in a note, “that the search for lighter and healthier foods intensifies in the summer”.
The survey shows that, at the beginning of January, the prices of several products fell below the cost of production and, faced with the drop, several rural producers chose to discard them while still on the farm. Among the items are tomatoes, potatoes and vegetables.
Fruits cost less 8,15%
The January index was mainly influenced by the fruit sector, with a decrease of 8.15%. According to Ceagesp, falling prices for these products are normal in January compared to December, when greater demand due to the end-of-year festivities puts pressure on prices. Despite this, the company warns that values have already started to fall even in December.
The products that saw the biggest price reduction were: Tahiti lemon (-57.1%), avocado (-50.2%), carambola (-36.8%), beautiful papaya (-33.7%) and niagara grapes (-26. 8%). In the opposite direction, there was an increase in green coconut (47.3%), pearl pineapple (17.6%) and sour passion fruit (13.6%).
In the vegetables sector, values decreased by 4.43%, with emphasis on yellow peppers (-46%), red peppers (-38.7%), cassava (-27.4%), tomatoes (-21.2%) and sweet potatoes pinkish (-15.8%). In the same period, the following items mainly rose: chayote (60.3%), eggplant (38.8%), common cucumber (31.1%), Brazilian zucchini (22.2%) and Italian zucchini (16.5%).
Source: AgenciaBrasil
