Central Mexico
By Eric Anderson
3.27.13
Recent frosts in central Mexico have caused vegetable prices to raise considerably in the third week of March. Prices for a kilo of tomatoes have reached 30 pesos, and zucchini up to 32 pesos.
Based on data from the National Information and Market Integration System (SIIM), tomato prices are up to 347.37% higher than those registered in the same week of 2012. Zucchini are 410.71% more expensive.
The price hike is due to freezes in Puebla and Hidalgo which severely affected crops in the area.Prices for wholesale tomatoes reached 20.40 pesos last week, up from 12 pesos last year.
Creole zucchini went from 180 to 280 pesos for a 25 kilo box and Italian zucchini from 220 to 464 pesos. The Italian variety reached retail prices of 30 to 52.50 pesos, according to Profeco.
Prices are estimated to stay high for the next two weeks; however, as demand falls, the upward trend could reverse.
Mexico Freeze Update
