€8 for strawberries, +20% for asparagus and tomatoes: in Toulouse, prices are skyrocketing at the Cristal market
It certainly remains the cheapest market in Toulouse. Yet on the Crystal, the price of fruit and vegetables are soaring on the stalls, raising fears of a difficult summer for the consumer. Report.
“Asparagus, tomatoes and strawberries have increased by 20%, especially at the start of the season, notes an exhibitor at the Cristal market, on the boulevards. The increase in fuel explains this situation. This trend which reached up to + 30% at the beginning of March tends to be regulated thanks to the quantity”.
Rising tomatoes, cucumber, strawberries are particularly affected by this. The reason ? Fruits and vegetables grown above ground, that is to say in gas-heated greenhouses. A very energy-intensive cultivation method.
This Tuesday morning, customers scrutinize the prices in the aisles of the Cristal boulevard de Strasbourg market: “You have to be careful with your wallet, admits Annie, a regular at the place. Strawberries, seasonal fruit at 8 € per kg, we forget for example. We wait a bit. Ditto for the asparagus which climbed to 12 € or the tomatoes which have become almost a luxury product. Let’s face it, I buy a little less”.
“A clientele very cautious about purchases”
Further on, Julie, who is very keen on labels, specifies: “On Cristal, prices have risen but less than elsewhere. Customers are also rarer. Many prefer supermarkets which regularly offer attractive prices on fruits and vegetables. But beware, the quality is not the same as on the markets and is not local”.
Alain Truffert, Crystal delegate, testifies: “With the covid and now the conflict in Ukraine, the clientele is gloomy and more cautious about purchases. She fears the future. “With the increase in certain prices, such as cherries at €14.90/kg, we of course lost a few customers, especially those passing through, admits Nadim, exhibitor. Fortunately, not the faithful. We are a bit apprehensive about what’s next. Everything will depend on events in Ukraine.”