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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) — Filipino buyers now prefer imported garlic over local supply that costs more than thrice the price of the foreign produce, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Wednesday.
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Based on recent market monitoring, the DA said more consumers prefer imported garlic sold at ₱80 per kilo rather than the locally produced garlic sold at ₱300 per kilo.
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“With the rising demand for garlic in the household and various industries, consumers continue to prefer to buy the imported variety over the local produce,” the DA said in a statement.
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“The wide price deficit has forced buyers to shop for the variety sourced from other garlic-producing countries,” it added.
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According to the DA, buyers said practicality leads them to buy the cheap, big bulbs over the small, native ones even if the local supply has stronger aroma and flavor.
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“Dun po tayo sa nakakatipid, kung ano po ‘yung mura, dun po tayo,” the DA quoted a consumer.
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[Translation: We go with where we can save money, the cheaper choice.]
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The DA added vegetable vendors have also observed the current trend, citing the large gap between prices.
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The department also noted that local stock has significantly shrunk as last year’s supply was “almost used up” by the series of holidays last December.
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Ilocos Norte and Sur remain as the country’s top producers of garlic with a combined 1,315.70 hectares (ha) of production area during the last quarter of 2022, the DA said.
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Garlic sold in January 2023 was sourced from the last harvest for 2022, set early November.
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The first harvest for 2023 will be sourced from Ilocos in February with a projected volume of 21 metric tons (MT). A total of 3,947 MT will be available to consumers by April, sourced from the 22 garlic-producing towns of the Ilocos Region.
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