Vegetable Prices Soaring amid Record-Breaking Heat in Japan

July 26, 2018

Tokyo- Vegetable prices are soaring in Japan, due to the effects of the ongoing record-breaking heat wave, as well as earlier heavy rains including in western areas.

In Tokyo's wholesale market as of Monday, cabbage prices were 70 pct higher than in usual years, while spinach traded 30 pct higher, as shipments fall in the nearby prefectures of Gunma and Ibaraki, major producers of the two vegetables.

Prices of "daikon" radishes, cucumbers and carrots from the northern prefecture of Hokkaido and the Tohoku northeastern region were up 70 pct, 40 pct and 30 pct, respectively, after the areas were hit by a long spell of rain and poor sunshine in mid-June.

In Osaka, wholesale prices of "komatsuna" mustard spinach including from the southwestern prefecture of Fukuoka surged 70 pct, following torrential rains in western and southwestern regions earlier this month.

According to a survey report released by the farm ministry on Wednesday, the nationwide average of cucumber retail prices was up 60 pct from the average year in the third week of July.

"Vegetable prices are expected to stay at high levels, as shipments are falling in the violent heat," a ministry official said.Jiji Press