According to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China’s Vegetable Basket Index fell markedly in April, falling to 122.96, down 3.48 points from the previous month and down 5.37 points year-on-year. calculus. The average wholesale price of the 28 types of vegetables subject to monitoring was 4.86 yen per kilogram, representing a decrease of 6.9% month-on-month and a slight decrease of 0.2% year-on-year. In particular, prices for zucchini, green onions, cucumbers and green onions decreased most significantly.
Seasonal increase in supply and price adjustment
Experts attribute the decline in vegetable prices to the increase in acreage of vegetables currently being grown in fields, expecting a further increase in supply and a continued downward trend in prices. In Beijing, this fall in prices was facilitated by a smooth transition in manufacturing zones. With the arrival of warmer weather, spring vegetables such as spinach, bok choy, fennel and garlic have flooded markets, causing prices to fall to their lowest levels in a year.
Trader Zhang Xinying at Beijing’s Xinfadi Agricultural Market noted that changes in production areas and farming methods have continued since April. The main production areas of leafy and fruit vegetables have moved north from the south of the Yangtze River to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. In addition, vegetables grown in cold and open fields replace vegetables from warm greenhouses, further stabilizing supply.
Market observations and data
On May 6, the weighted average price of vegetables at Beijing Xinfadi Market was 3.2 yen per kilogram, down 1.54% from April 6 and 6.43% less than the same period last year. These price adjustments reflect broader trends as supplies of spring vegetables increase across the country.
New methods and regional harvests
In the main vegetable producing regions – Henan and Shandong – the harvest season is in full swing. Neihuang, Anyang, Henan County harvests more than 60,000 acres of open-field vegetables, including cabbage, baby cabbage and cabbage, with total production expected to reach 300,000 tons by the end of May. In Zhaixiang City, Shandong Province, Yiyang County, more than 20,000 greenhouses cover an area of 21,000 acres, using a “rotational” model of multi-season, year-round cultivation. Thanks to this approach, zucchini, cauliflower, fennel and other vegetables are ripe and ready for sale.
The spring season has ushered in a plentiful supply of vegetables throughout China, causing prices to drop significantly. Thanks to successful shifts in production areas and the introduction of innovative farming methods, the outlook for vegetable prices remains favorable for consumers. The constant increase in supply ensures market stability and demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of China’s agricultural sector.
