Vegetable prices in Beijing

With the Chinese new year 2012 approaching, traditional retail commnity markets or grocerries are swarmed with shoppers eager to buy vegetables, fruits and daily necessities, forcing them to queue up for the highly priced vegetables.

Every year no matter whatever the cuases for the soaring vegetable prices, local governments would double their efforts to curb price hikes. But very often they would be in a dilemma - Low vegetable prices hurt farmers, but high vegetable prices hurt shoppers. It is not easy to find a point for the balanced prices. Each market has its winners and losers.

This morning I buy some vegetables at our local community vegetable market named "Lejia Vegetable Market". The indoor market has been festively decorated with red lanterns and dragons, symbolic of the coming new year of Dragon. I have collected the following prices for the major vegetables Jan 16, 2012:

Tomatos: RMB6.2 for one kg Cucumber: RMB4.8 for one kg Celery: RMB1.2 for one kg Spinach: RMB4.7 for one kg Broccoli: RMB5.1 for one kg Lettuce: RMB5.9 for one kg Eggpant: RMB5.1 for one kg Garlic: RMB3.3 for one kg Chinese cabbages: RMB.55 for one kg Scallion: RMB1.95 for one kg Sweet broad pea: RMB15 for one kg Carrot: RMB1.1 for one kg Leek: RMB6.2 for one kg Lotus: RMB4 for one kg Gourd: RMB2.5 for one kg Green pepper: RMB11.5 for one kg Ginger: RMB2.7 for one kg Towel gourd: RMB12.8 for one kg Potato:RMB1.46 for one kg

One vendor says the prices will go higher in a few days due to the strong market demand for the coming Chinese new year.

I'm entering Lejia Vegetable Market, an indoor grocerry in our Donghuashi Nanli Commnity.

The whole market is piled up with various kinds of vegetable and fruits.

Bamboos shoots, celery, scallion and more

My favorite vendor who sells vegetables targeted at the southerners.

Some vendors who have no marketing license, have to sell their stuff outside the offcially run vegetable maket.