BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO
During the holiday season in Baguio, the price of tomatoes soared to 230 pesos per kilo.
The reason? Demand and supply.
According to Gilbert Comila, Consultant of the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal Inc., “Since the typhoon last February until now, supply has been limited. There are more buyers than farmers delivering tomatoes, which causes competition and raises prices.”
As 2025 begins, although prices have slightly dropped to 150 pesos to 180 pesos per kilo, they remain high for buyers.
Brenda Obungen, a vendor, stated, “Tomato prices have dropped compared to last December, but they’re still at a hundred pesos. It’s not a drastic decrease. This is likely the effect of previous typhoons, which limited the supply.”
Consumers are buying in small quantities.
“Usually, we only buy about 1/4 kilo weekly because that’s what fits into our budget for one week,” said Rovie De Guzman, a buyer.
Because of this, sales remain sluggish.
“People are still thrifty. They don’t buy in bulk, just enough for consumption, as it’s still expensive above 100 pesos,” Obungen added.
“There are still buyers, but in small amounts, 1/4 or 1/2 kilo. We still manage to sell despite the high prices,” said Rosemarie Caranto, a vendor.
Prices are expected to drop further in the first quarter of the year.
“When crops in Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon start producing, tomato prices will definitely go down,” Comila stated.
Meanwhile, leafy vegetables like cabbage are now cheaper, ranging from 23 pesos to 32 pesos per kilo, down from 40 pesos to 50 pesos in the first week of the year.
