A surge of tomatoes flooding the markets across Accra has resulted in a sharp decline in prices for the popular vegetable.
This annual phenomenon, driven by the tomato season, has led to adjustments in pricing at the CMB tomato market and other trading points.
Previously priced at GHS1000, a substantial wooden crate of tomatoes now commands GHS800.
Similarly, the cost of a large basket has dipped from GHS400 to a range between GHS200 and GHS250.
Even a medium-sized plastic basket of tomatoes, once tagged at GHS150, is now selling for GHS100.
Madam Theresa Lartey, the spokesperson for the Greater Accra Tomato Traders Association, shared her insights on the seasonal dynamics.
Having been in the industry for over four decades, she emphasized that the fluctuation in tomato prices is a customary occurrence during the tomato season.
"Tomatoes come in seasons," Madam Lartey explained, "for instance, during Christmas and Easter, the vegetable is out of season so, prices are higher, but the month of August is when the tomato is in season, that is why as you can see, the market is flooded."
The surplus of tomatoes from local regions like Ada has resulted in a situation where sales are slow, prompting traders to negotiate lower prices to avoid spoilage.
Madam Lartey noted, "Right now, sales are low, people quote whatever price they want to give you so, sometimes you sell it at the same price as you bought it from the farmers, and you don't make any profit because if you don't accept the price they give you, they will rot."
Addressing the sourcing aspect, Madam Lartey highlighted the emphasis on domestic tomato production.
She stated, "All the tomatoes you see here around this time is from the Ada areas, every tomato you see here is from Ghana, it is not from Burkina Faso… The only time traders go to buy from Burkina Faso is during the lean seasons when tomatoes from Ada and Kumasi are in short supply."
The spokesperson advocated for government intervention to support year-round tomato farming, aiming for price stability.
Burkina Faso's ability to produce tomatoes consistently due to their reservoir infrastructure was highlighted as an example.
Tomatoes, recognized for their nutritional value, are low in calories and high in vital nutrients such as vitamin C and potassium.
Their antioxidant properties and potential benefits in reducing heart disease and cancer risk have contributed to their popularity in Ghanaian households.
With an annual consumption of about 440,000 tons, tomatoes constitute a significant portion—40 percent—of household vegetable expenditure.