The entity reported that three joint operations were carried out during the night of Friday, July 12 and the early morning of Saturday, July 13, in San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Sacatepéquez and kilometer 74.5 in the jurisdiction of Patzicía, Chimaltenango.
These actions are being taken following increases were observed in recent days in some sensitive products such as tomatoes, onions, and potatoes in retail sales or for the final consumer.
On these routes, different suppliers who take their product to the Wholesale Center (CENMA) and the Terminal in zone 4 were interviewed.
In the surveys carried out on the highway in San Lucas Sacatepéquez, the authorities noted that the prices provided by producers or suppliers from the west of the country are “quite reasonable,” according to Herberth Ordóñez, head of the Verification and Surveillance Department of the Directorate of Consumer Care and Assistance (Diaco).
He added that “they (the producers and suppliers) deliver it at one price and the final consumer has another price,” but distribution costs and the operating costs of each transfer must also be taken into account.
He pointed out that the results obtained in the operations of the last few hours will be analyzed to determine if the possible crime of speculation is being committed and based on this they will be able to make the decision to report it to the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) following analyzing the prices they collected next week.
Although constant operations are maintained every day in markets and supermarkets to verify the prices of the basic basket, in recent days increases have been observed in the aforementioned sensitive products, so operations have also been extended to verify prices in suppliers, who are those who bring products from the interior of the country.
Regarding the price differences detected in the chain through verification of suppliers, markets and some distributors, Ordóñez added that they verified products such as tomatoes, chili peppers, fruits such as pineapple, apple and others.
For example, a truck was observed that delivered tomatoes for Q4.50 and then, depending on where it was delivered, it already had another cost for transportation and retail sales.
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Asked whether speculation had been detected with the data collected in the operations, Ordóñez said that “not so much as speculation, but rather it is an increase in price, because strictly speaking we cannot classify it as speculation because what the Penal Code says regarding speculation is quite difficult to prove.”
The official responded that there is an increase in prices compared to what the sellers give compared to what the sellers distribute.
“Yes, of course, there is the operating cost of each transfer, but we believe that according to the calculations that have been made and a quick analysis of the numbers, what has been observed in the market in recent days is that some products such as tomatoes, potatoes, and onions have increased in price once more,” he added.
He mentioned that they were monitoring it at Q8, for example, and it shot up at Q10.
They therefore hope that in the coming days the presence of the Ministry of Agriculture, Diaco, Mineco, the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT), the National Civil Police and the Army, as well as the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency, these joint operations will bear fruit in the lowering of prices, which must return to what they were.
Although he said that last year’s drought and this year’s heavy rains have affected some crops, he said that products such as tomatoes are not grown in the open air, but rather on large areas that are protected and have irrigation methods that are not affected by the lack of water. In the winter season, he said, this probably affects cilantro and avocado, but the other products have other processes and tools so that production takes place as it should.
Buyers: Before it was enough for a week, now it is only enough for three days
The woman who identified herself as Sister Miriam, director of the Dios con Nosotros Nursery School, came to Cenma to buy vegetables for the institution. She said that prices are high since they go with the goal of buying for the whole week but they no longer have enough money.
The products where he has noticed the largest increases are loroco, potatoes, onions and tomatoes. He adds that before they spent a total of regarding Q300 per week on vegetables, greens and salads, but now that amount is only enough for three days.
“Prices do not allow us to bring a variety of vegetables. Many say that it is because of the rains that spoil them, but when you come here you can find fresh and good vegetables, but the prices are high,” he said, beginning by saying that he saw the change in prices two weeks ago when the rains began to get heavier.
The family of Luis Contreras and Susana Cancinos, who also attended Cemna, said that there are prices for vegetables that have doubled or tripled the prices of products such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, güisquil, peas, green beans, lemon, and others.
To buy vegetables, they now have to spend between Q300 and Q400 extra compared to 15 days ago. Before, they spent between Q300 and Q500 a week on these products and now it costs them around Q800.
Although they say that other basic products such as eggs, sugar, and beans have also increased in price.
Sellers: They supply us at a higher price
Fabiola Alvarado, a saleswoman at warehouse number 15, said that the price of vegetables is high because those who supply them do not want to lower prices and that has already begun to affect them because sales to the final consumer have dropped.
Distributors tell them that “everything is very expensive” and those who supply them tell them that it is because of the rain that has affected the crops, but she says she does not know the reasons.
Alvarado says that they buy wholesale at Cenma and then resell to the final consumer in the local market.
The price of a pound of tomatoes and potatoes is Q10 each, he said, although there are businesses that are selling them for as much as Q12, he said.
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Magaly Quisquinay, who comes from Sumpango, Sacatepéquez, to sell at Cenma, said that the increases have been very large, because the price of the carrots they supply was Q50 per bag and now they are given from Q90 to Q130. Meanwhile, cucumbers were Q110 per sack and now they are Q150.
“We try to be fair so that people come to buy from us and don’t feel like they are being charged for it, but sales are down because it is no longer within the reach of many people to make all their purchases and the minimum wage they are being paid is no longer enough to make their purchases.”
For the final consumer, the price of potatoes was Q5 and now it reached Q10, and the pound of green beans was Q10 and now it is Q15.
According to him, tomatoes are still a bit lower, but they have dropped a little, because three days ago they were at Q10 a pound, and this Saturday they were at Q8 or two, at Q15 or Q5, although he says it depends on the quality. Onions are at Q6 a pound, he added.
The box of cauliflower was Q70 and Q80 and might be given to the consumer for Q12. But currently, wholesalers as resellers are paying Q15 plus charges for transport to their stands, reaching Q120 per box, so the final consumer might have received it for Q15, but it has now become Q20 each.
Asked regarding the authorities questioning the increases, Quisquinay said that as sellers they are passing on the price that is in accordance with their purchases to their suppliers. “If we buy at a lower price today, we can give it for less, but if we buy at a high price, logically we have to give it at that price,” she said.
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