Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Jeddah fruit and vegetable market will supply the needs of the consumers during Ramadan by receiving more than 1,000 tons of the agricultural products daily, local daily Al-Madina reported on Sunday quoting market sources.

The auctioneers expect the prices of the tomatoes to go up during the first days of Ramadan but to come down at the end of it.

Mutasim Abu Zinadah, deputy chief of the syndicate of auctioneers, said contracts had recently signed with a number of suppliers particularly from Turkey to supply the market with its needs of fruits and vegetables.

He said the market needs about 150 tons of tomatoes every day of which 120 tons are imported from Turkey, Egypt and Jordan while 30 tons are secured from the local production.

"During the holy month of Ramadan, the market will daily receive about 1,000 tons of agricultural products consisting of 60 percent fruits and 40 percent vegetables to cater to the needs of the entire Western region mainly Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah," he said.

Abu Zinadah expected the price of fruits and vegetables to go up during the first days of Ramadan due to the withdrawals to Makkah and Madinah to supply the needs of the Umrah pilgrims and visitors.

"The market will daily receive about 50 tons of various kinds of vegetables whose prices will be high during the first days of the fasting month but will drop by the end of it," he said.

The sellers expected the demand to be high for the fruits during Ramadan due to the feasts and Iftar parties.

Ali Al-Harbe, who owns a wholesale shop, said between 45 percent and 50 percent of the fruit buyers look for bananas especially those imported from the Philippines and the Ecuador.

"About 30 percent of the buyers of orange prefer the orange coming from South Africa and Egypt," he added.

Harbe said his customers usually go for the apples coming from Chile and Italy.