There was fluctuation in the supply and price of crops at the local markets in Samoa in December while the supply of other vegetables compared to the previous month and the same month last year.

This is according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics latest report on local market supply.

The supply of taro in December 2023 increased to more than double to 6,975 kilograms from the previous month, leading to a decrease in prices by 11 per cent to $4.83 per kilogram. When compared to December 2022, the current supply of taro increased more than two times while its average price rose 29 percent.

In the 12 months ending December 2023, the supply of taro fell four per cent, while its average price increased 29 per cent when compared to the 12 months ending December 2022.

Banana supplies in the month under review decreased 23 per cent to 1,990 kilograms from November 2023 while the average price decreased by two per cent to $1.85 per kilogram.

When compared with the same month last year, the current supply and average price of bananas both increased by 16 and 30 percent respectively.

Ta’amu at an average of 45 kilograms supplied at the markets in December 2023 increased 16 per cent compared to the previous month while its average price decreased by 23 per cent to $11.56 per kilogram.

Coconut supplies at 4,724 kilograms increased by 13 per cent from November 2023 and its average price increased by two per cent to $0.99 per kilogram. In comparison to December 2022, the current supply increased by 45 per cent while average price decreased by two per cent.

Breadfruit supply of breadfruit in December 2023 increased four per cent to 250 kilograms from the previous month, and its average price rose 17 per cent to $2.72 per kilogram due to the increase in supply.

Vegetable produce supplied to the local markets in December 2023 all experienced decreases over the previous month except for cucumber which increased more than doubled to 1207 kilograms from the previous month.

Tomatoes supplies fell 62 per cent to 153 kilograms, head cabbage supplies declined 59 per cent to 410 kilograms followed by Chinese cabbage and pumpkin supplies which decreased by 50 per cent to 71 kilograms and nine percent to 8,403 kilograms respectively from the previous month.

After the decline in the supply of almost all of the vegetables available at the local markets in the month under review, their average prices increased. Cucumber prices increased by four percent to $6.76 per kilogram, Chinese cabbage increased by 23 per cent to $8.89 per kilogram, head cabbage and tomatoes both increased by 13 per cent each to $9.65 per kilogram and to $18.31 per kilogram and pumpkin also increased by 14 per cent to $5.31 per kilogram when compared to November 2023.