In January, the level of minimum wholesale prices for potatoes in Moldova changes weekly in the range of 4-4,5 lei/kg ($0,22-0,25/kg), reports the portal east fruit. Members of the Association of Potato Growers of Moldova believe that price fluctuations depend on the weather: warming is associated with an increase in demand and sales of potatoes in urban markets, a cold snap forces consumers to buy more expensive potatoes in supermarkets and convenience stores.
This week, according to weather forecasts, it will get colder. Therefore, there is reason to predict a slight increase in potato prices. By the way, in January 2022, compared to last year’s level, in the same month, wholesale prices in lei were higher by 15-18%. In dollar terms, the increase is no more than 1-3%.
According to the association's specialists, in addition to the unstable and generally limited demand for potatoes, the price level for it is still under high pressure from the “barn potatoes”. It is impossible to calculate how much of this product is stored by rural households and small farms. Taking into account the fact that the supply of products of low and medium quality is large, there are still quite a few such, relatively speaking, “trade balances”. And the difference between small wholesale and retail prices in urban open markets is negligible.
At the same time, in most supermarkets retail prices for potatoes have not changed since the end of December. At the same time, they are one and a half to two times higher than the "bazaar" ones.