Cold Snap Arrives: Shanghai Cabbage and Bok Choy Prices Double, Vegetable Supply Ample

The cold snap has put Shanghai's vegetable supply to the test. Eastday reporters have learned that vegetable supply on the market is currently ample, though prices have risen somewhat. Leafy greens showed the most obvious price increases, with napa cabbage rising from around one yuan per jin to over 3 yuan, and bok choy rising from around 2 yuan per jin to about 5 yuan.

This morning, Eastday reporters saw at the Kangding Road market in the city center that the vegetable stalls offered a very rich variety, and the produce all looked “crisp and fresh.” As for leafy greens, bok choy, napa cabbage, head cabbage, and spinach were all in ample supply. One vegetable vendor told reporters that over the past two days, affected by the cold air, vegetable prices had all risen somewhat. The most obvious increases were in napa cabbage and bok choy, whose prices had already doubled. Napa cabbage that used to sell for eight mao to one yuan per jin was selling for 3.5 yuan today; bok choy that was originally 2.5 yuan per jin had risen repeatedly over the past few days and was already close to 5 yuan per jin.

Several vegetable vendors all said that the rise in vegetable prices was partly due to the impact of the cold air, as frost-sensitive leafy greens around Shanghai were certain to rise in price. On the other hand, the transport, harvesting, and planting of some vegetables coming into Shanghai from other places had been delayed by the cold snap weather, which also caused vegetable prices to rise. In addition, every year as the Spring Festival approaches, vegetable prices also experience a wave of increases. This time, with the cold snap and the approaching Spring Festival, the prices of vegetables, fruits, and aquatic products have likewise risen all the way. Although vegetable prices have risen, quite a few vendors said that before the cold snap arrived, very few residents had stockpiled vegetables, and residents' vegetable buying over the past two days had also been normal, since everyone needs to eat leafy greens every day.

Reporters learned that in response to the impact of cold weather on vegetable supply, departments including the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and the Agriculture Commission have already taken measures to ensure that the city's vegetable supply and prices remain basically stable. Major vegetable markets in Shanghai had already anticipated this cold snap in advance and made advance stockpiles. For example, Shanghai Agricultural Wholesale Market, according to market conditions, increases the shipment volume of outside vegetables such as Shanghai napa cabbage and white radish by 50% during low-temperature days. The Municipal Commission of Commerce will continue to do a good job monitoring the prices of staple and non-staple foods, pay attention to market dynamics, strengthen analysis and forecasting of trends, and release supply and demand information in a timely manner.