This is why tomatoes are so scarce and expensive
Have you experienced a hike in food prices recently?
Doing the weekly essential grocery run has turned out to be more stressful than ever.
Heavy rainfall across parts of South Africa, continuing on 24 March, has resulted in a shortage of tomatoes - prices have increased as a result.
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The quality of tomatoes produced of late have taken a hit after Limpopo and Mpumalanga experience heavy rains and flooding in the early months of the year.
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The current shortage is reportedly temporary. Managing director of agricultural information group Agrimark Trends (AMT), Dr Johnny Van Der Merwe, explains that a record price of R16.82 per kilogram was reached on the market by mid-March. In video shared via Netwerk24, he mentions that the high-quality tomatoes prices breached R30/kg.
One of the last big price increases South Africa experienced was the price hike in ginger and non-alcoholic beverages in January. The reason for the escalation in price came as a result of an increase in demand and a shortage of supply.
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