Poor weather causes vegetables prices to rise

Rainy weather and a lack of sunshine in many parts of Japan has created shortages of vegetables and caused wholesale prices to rise.

The farm ministry says the average price of 14 major fresh vegetables traded at the Tokyo metropolitan central wholesale market in July was 160 yen per kilogram, or about 1.7 dollars. That's 5 percent higher than normal.

In particular, the price of potatoes from areas around Tokyo and elsewhere has soared by about 60 percent. Onions from southwestern Japan and elsewhere are up 36 percent. Tomatoes from northeastern regions have risen 14 percent and carrots are up by 6 percent.

By contrast, the prices of cabbage and Chinese cabbage from Nagano Prefecture in central Japan and Gunma Prefecture north of Tokyo, where weather has been more stable, have fallen by some 13 percent, due to abundant crops.

Market sources say vegetable shipments from Hokkaido in northern Japan are about to move into top gear, but poor weather conditions in the region are likely to keep prices of potatoes and onions high for the time being.