# Price of certain vegetables in Taiwan **URL:** \ **Category:** Food & Drink\ **Created:** [August 31, 2020, 10:23am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034 "2020-08-31T10:23:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Taiwan_Luthiers)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 10:23am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/1 "2020-08-31T10:23:51Z")
I just want to know, why are vegetables extremely expensive at certain times (like summer) vs other times? In the US, at least for Walmart 1 pack of green onion is $1.25 (this is year round). In Taiwan the same amount of green onion ranges from 20nt, to 100nt! Depending on the season you buy them of course. I’m picking on green onions because it can’t be hoarded or stored for more than 3 days (it turns into mush after 3 days no matter what). How do restaurants cope with such a large price variable? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Milker](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dr_milker/32/181996_2.png) [@Dr\_Milker](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Dr_Milker)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 10:37am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/2 "2020-08-31T10:37:16Z")
Taiwan’s freaky weather regularly causes major crop damage. Also, the inefficient and corrupt distribution system results in big price fluctuations. ---
**Author:** ![DKaoshuing](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dkaoshuing/32/127142_2.png) [@DKaoshuing](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/DKaoshuing)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 11:02am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/3 "2020-08-31T11:02:40Z")
> [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](#): > > I just want to know, why are vegetables extremely expensive at certain times (like summer) vs other times? > > In the US, at least for Walmart 1 pack of green onion is $1.25 (this is year round). In Taiwan the same amount of green onion ranges from 20nt, to 100nt! Depending on the season you buy them of course. I’m picking on green onions because it can’t be hoarded or stored for more than 3 days (it turns into mush after 3 days no matter what). > > How do restaurants cope with such a large price variable? Restaurants build into their costs averaging it out over the year. As for supermarket, its market rates. If it’s snowing you know your salad will cost more. ---
**Author:** ![Shui](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Shui](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Shui)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/4 "2020-08-31T12:58:01Z")
What is “corrupt” with the distribution system? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Milker](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dr_milker/32/181996_2.png) [@Dr\_Milker](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Dr_Milker)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/5 "2020-08-31T13:01:45Z")
> [@Shui](#): > > What is “corrupt” with the distribution system? Middlemen who buy from farmers dirt cheap and take a huge cut before selling to retailers for inflated prices, and engage in price gouging at the slightest hint of bad weather that may affect crops. ---
**Author:** ![robi666](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/robi666/32/100625_2.png) [@robi666](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/robi666)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:46am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/6 "2020-09-01T02:46:32Z")
> [@Dr\_Milker](#): > > Taiwan’s freaky weather regularly causes major crop damage. That only explains the poor quality. Other countries have to deal with freaky weather too. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Milker](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dr_milker/32/181996_2.png) [@Dr\_Milker](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Dr_Milker)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/7 "2020-09-01T02:48:17Z")
> [@robi666](#): > > Other countries have to deal with freaky weather too. True, but it seems like Taiwan has more than its fair share. ---
**Author:** ![finley](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/57b2e6/32.png) [@finley](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/finley)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/8 "2020-09-01T02:50:07Z")
In that case surely it’s not freaky, then? It’s normal. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bdog](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@bdog](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/bdog)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/9 "2020-09-01T02:52:06Z")
Every time I go to the markets and they quote some bullshit about how the rain has made the, I don’t know, cabbage more expensive. The middleman pulled it out of his fridge, just like always. ---
**Author:** ![Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Taiwan_Luthiers)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:54am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/10 "2020-09-01T02:54:48Z")
Well cabbage becomes dirt cheap in the winter for some reason. But cabbages can be stored long term, green onion turns to mush in 3 days no matter what you do. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Milker](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dr_milker/32/181996_2.png) [@Dr\_Milker](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Dr_Milker)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:55am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/11 "2020-09-01T02:55:32Z")
> [@finley](#): > > In that case surely it’s not freaky, then? It’s normal. 🙂 Abnormally freaky? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![tempogain](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tempogain/32/264650_2.png) [@tempogain](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tempogain)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 3:26am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/12 "2020-09-01T03:26:19Z")
> [@robi666](#): > > That only explains the poor quality. > Other countries have to deal with freaky weather too. Taiwan is small though and local effects of storms can be a big factor. I suspect though suppliers and distributors know people anticipate this and will take advantage to extract higher prices when possible. ---
**Author:** ![Britt](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/britt/32/768_2.png) [@Britt](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Britt)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 3:31am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/13 "2020-09-01T03:31:44Z")
Taiwan doesn’t have the same obsession with year-round availability of produce like America does. They don’t grow things in greenhouses to maintain a certain climate for certain foods. Solution: buy seasonal produce. How do you know what’s in season? Go to the market and see what’s plentiful and cheap. ---
**Author:** ![spaint](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@spaint](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/spaint)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 4:01am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/14 "2020-09-01T04:01:45Z")
> [@Dr\_Milker](#): > > Middlemen who buy from farmers dirt cheap and take a huge cut before selling to retailers for inflated prices, and engage in price gouging at the slightest hint of bad weather that may affect crops. 菜蟲 ! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Milker](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dr_milker/32/181996_2.png) [@Dr\_Milker](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Dr_Milker)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/15 "2020-09-01T04:02:56Z")
> [@spaint](#): > > 菜蟲 ! Yep, and not the kind that adds extra protein to your salad. ---
**Author:** ![Belgian\_Pie](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/8dc957/32.png) [@Belgian\_Pie](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Belgian_Pie)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 4:18am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/16 "2020-09-01T04:18:29Z")
> [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](#): > > In the US, at least for Walmart 1 pack of green onion is $1.25 (this is year round). In Taiwan the same amount of green onion ranges from 20nt, to 100nt! The US has spread out growth seasons from north to south as in Taiwan mostly everything grows and ripens quickly around the same period, gets harvested. Supply and demand. And as said crop damage (but that can be argued about). ---
**Author:** ![Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Taiwan_Luthiers)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 4:19am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/17 "2020-09-01T04:19:18Z")
People in China would say that this kind of behavior would not be tolerated by the CCP… ---
**Author:** ![bdog](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@bdog](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/bdog)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/18 "2020-09-01T04:43:13Z")
> [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](#): > > How do restaurants cope with such a large price variable? By offering only the following choices of greens to order, repeat ad nauseum: “Sweet potato leaves or cabbage?” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Milker](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dr_milker/32/181996_2.png) [@Dr\_Milker](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Dr_Milker)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/19 "2020-09-01T04:53:17Z")
> [@bdog](#): > > “Sweet potato leaves or cabbage?” Nothing wrong with these, as long as they’re prepared properly. ---
**Author:** ![Belgian\_Pie](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/8dc957/32.png) [@Belgian\_Pie](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Belgian_Pie)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034/20 "2020-09-01T04:53:46Z")
Go to the whole sale market at 3 AM? Or wait until closing to get better deals but less choice. [Next page](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/price-of-certain-vegetables-in-taiwan/196034.md?page=2)