The prices of vegetables that are consumed in high quantities in the country are up to 35% cheaper in the municipal markets. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and confirmed by Diario Libre, last week the main foodstuffs sold in the markets in Plaza Conaprope, Los Mina, Villa Consuelo, Cristo Rey and the Mercado Nuevo in Santo Domingo had prices well below those in the supermarkets.
The largest differences were in tubers, with sweet potatoes and yuca at 35% less, around RD$15 a pound, potatoes at 23% cheaper at an average of RD$16.8 a pound compared to RD$21.72 in the supermarkets. Black beans were almost a third cheaper in the markets than in the supermarkets at RD$39 a pound and red beans at 22% less at RD$49.6 a pound.
Even chicken was marginally more expensive in the supermarkets at RD$57 a pound in the markets and RD$57.59 in the supermarkets.
When it comes to the prices of beef and pork, once again the markets were cheaper, with beef RD$113 a pound in the markets and RD$153,59 in the supermarkets and fresh pork chops at RD$85.4 a pound in the markets and RD$105.74 in the supermarkets. At RD$6.44 each, eggs were 10% more expensive in the supermarkets.
However, the access routes and sanitary conditions of the municipal markets put some people off buying there, with narrow access roads full of garbage and a lack of maintenance inside the markets themselves.
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Diario Libre
24 April 2019