According to the Dominican Minister of Agriculture, Osmar Benítez, the price of bananas will stabilize soon and start falling. "We already have bananas and we are offering transportation options to producers to prevent speculation, which has already affected this basic food product," said the minister on social media.
Benítez explained that the price of bananas has increased due to the severe drought and the two tornadoes that damaged more than 32,000 tareas (over 2 thousand hectares) in Central Cibao, the main producing area.
He added that there are more than 1.3 million tareas (over 81,744 hectares) planted, with a production expected to exceed 7,000 million bananas, with consumption amounting to around 8 million daily, said the minister.
In supermarkets, Barahona-grown bananas are being sold for between $ 13.50 and $ 18.95. In the markets, they cost from 17.00 to 20.00 dollars. The Fhia 20 banana is sold for 9 dollars in the markets, according to the Dominican Price Information System (SIDIP) of the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Proconsumidor).
