Many bananas and few sales according to traders

National Territory – Plantain has always played a leading role in the Dominican diet and culture. It is a product capable of satisfying any of the three meals and lends itself to more elaborate dishes. Fritos, mangú, mofongo, lasagna, pastelón and sweets are just some of its varieties.

Its price has dropped, as indicated by the Minister of Agriculture, Limber Cruz, who urged Dominicans to consume the item because of overproduction, which has brought mixed reactions among the population.

While consumers are satisfied that the item will now have more accessible prices, traders are facing an unusual situation: a drop in sales despite the oversupply, which should, in theory, attract more buyers. They attribute this to the fact that now there is more demand and they have more competition.

Gustavo Coronado said that, although “people are eating more now because it is cheaper,” he has noticed “weak sales,” as did Mr. Aurelio Zabala, who has a banana stand in the Duarte market: “Sales are down.”

Antonia, who has a small market in Las 800, also shares this thought.

Mr. Zabala comments that he currently sells his plantains at 15 and 20 pesos, depending on the size, what he used to sell at 22 pesos.

Angel Zabala, a consumer who swarmed the aisles of the market while talking to Hoy journalists about the minister’s announcement, jokingly said, “If there is an overproduction, what they have to do is eat plantains, which are cheap.”

Zabala confessed that the price varies depending on the quality and size of the product. He said that he has obtained bananas for 11, 12, and 15 pesos.