Vegetable prices fail to come down

The price of vegetables has increased by as much as 120 percent over the last week across Riyadh markets.
This belied expectations of traders, who had predicted that prices would drop after Eid, local media reported.
Sellers and dealers in Riyadh’s vegetable markets said the increase is attributed to a shortfall in production and the manipulation of prices in the wholesale market.
Many consumers have expressed surprise over the absence of price control.
Abdullah Al-Dosari, a fruit and vegetable dealer, said that the price of a box of cucumber was pegged at about SR6 just a few weeks ago but has since increased to more than SR20 at hypermarkets, supermarkets and small vegetable stores.
“Apart from price hikes, most sellers are seeking to get rid of their goods, fearing damage due to high temperatures,” he was quoted as saying.
A lot of consumers tend to buy significantly smaller quantities due to high prices, Al-Dosari said.
Mohamed Mohsen, a vegetable seller, said: “The vegetable market in Riyadh is witnessing a significant increase in the price of products such as cucumbers, zucchini and okra, which surpassed 120 percent.”
He stressed that most high-priced vegetables are produced locally.
He attributed price hikes to a decline in production due to extreme temperatures.
“Despite the high prices, demand from restaurants remains high,” he said.