Morning News, Sept. 7: Da Lat Cauliflower Becomes Hard to Find

Da Lat cauliflower has become difficult to find at traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City, where imported varieties are more widely available. A market survey on the morning of September 7 also found shortages of other Da Lat vegetables, including cucumbers and mustard greens.

Imported cauliflower, sold in green and white varieties, was widely displayed at prices of 5,000 to 15,000 dong per kilogram. Da Lat cauliflower, by contrast, was mainly available at supermarkets and grocery chains, with prices ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 dong per kilogram. Some supermarkets sold out of the local produce during the day.

A Da Lat grower said prolonged rain had deprived vegetables of sunlight and reduced yields. The impact has affected crops in open fields, covered growing areas and greenhouses, including lettuce, cucumbers and cauliflower. Vegetables have struggled to set fruit and develop, pushing prices higher.

Growers said the rainy season affects supply each year. When produce is available, farms give priority to supermarkets before distributing it through other channels. They estimated that supplies could take more than a month to recover if the rain stops.

Live pig prices remained stable. Northern prices ranged from 58,000 to 60,000 dong per kilogram, with Hanoi, Hung Yen, Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho at 60,000 dong, and Lao Cai and Dien Bien at 58,000 dong. Prices in the Central and Central Highlands regions stood at 57,000 to 58,000 dong, while southern markets held at 57,000 to 58,000 dong. Ca Mau recorded the southern region’s lowest price, at 57,000 dong per kilogram.