Recently, Central China and South China have had a large amount of precipitation, which lasted for a long time. Roads were badly affected resulting in delayed transportation. The rain and snowy weather also caused hold ups in Beijing. Continuous snowfall has caused a general increase in vegetable prices in Beijing and the freezing temperatures and heavy rains in the southern producing areas also affected the growth rate of vegetables, resulting in a decline in production. It also affected harvesting and picking.
Xie Lei, an analyst at the Beijing Xinfadi Wholesale Market said that Beijing's vegetable self-sufficiency rate is relatively low. In the winter, southern vegetables will probably account for about 50%. Snowfall in Beijing has no direct impact on vegetable prices. However, low temperatures and insufficient light affect the growth rate of greenhouse vegetables in the northern producing areas, resulting in a short-term decline in production which has led to a shortage in supply and a rise in vegetable prices.
The varieties with price rise are mainly the solanaceous vegetables and leafy vegetables in the northern producing areas. Xie Lei said that once the temperature rises and the light is sufficient, the price will fall as the production goes up again.
