DESPITE the abundant supply of vegetables at the Labasa market, the price remains high, surprising many customers.
Vendors have blamed high cost of living as a deterrent for low vegetable prices.
Compared to previous years, the abundant supply of vegetable usually sees a drop in prices but that has not been the case this year.
Labasa market vendor, Ana Salauca said agriculture produce this year was plentiful, yet farmers were adamant on the prices that they set for their farm produce.
"We sometimes get lucky with these farmers when we bargain for prices to be reduced so that we can buy them, otherwise we remain unlucky and have no choice but to make do with their conditions," she said.
"For instance long beans that used to cost around $1.50 to $1 at vegetable peak season is now still sitting at $2. Cabbages that used to cost 80 cents at peak season is now still on the $1.50 and $2 range, and there are more items' prices still remaining the same and has not decreased," she said.
"At this time of the year there is always an influx of vegetable supplies and this year it has been no exception but compared to the other years, prices have gone up this year and everybody is feeling the pinch of this increases even our customers."
"We cannot blame farmers for the high costs of their produce because they are trying to make a living and prices of chemicals and other costs are high and at the end of the day they are trying to make a profit too."
Labasa resident, Rusiate Sugutaki said vegetables at the market were expensive even though there was an increase in vegetable varieties sold at the market.