Smaller produce, higher prices: Haze hits vegetable imports into Singapore

A typical head of iceberg lettuce from Malaysia is now about 50 per cent smaller than usual, says a wholesaler.

A typical head of iceberg lettuce from Malaysia has been about 50 per cent smaller than usual since the start of October, according to Avo & Co's general manager Cedric Chew. (Photo: CNA/Natalie Ong)

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SINGAPORE: Weeks of haze across parts of Southeast Asia are beginning to affect vegetables imported into Singapore, with wholesalers reporting smaller produce, tighter supplies and higher prices.

Experts say the impact could be widespread across haze-affected parts of the region, as reduced sunlight disrupts photosynthesis and slows vegetable growth.

Dr Paul Teng, a visiting senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme, estimates that up to 70 million hectares of Southeast Asian farmland may have been exposed to significant haze this year, representing more than half of the region's agricultural land.

At Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, stallowners said the effects are increasingly visible.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Mr Cedric Chew, Avo & Co's general manager, told CNA that heads of iceberg lettuce from Malaysia have been about 50 per cent smaller than usual since the start of October. Leafy vegetables are particularly vulnerable to a lack of sunlight, with prolonged exposure to such conditions affecting their size and yield. Avo & Co said the conditions are concerning as it imports about a fifth of its produce - around 3,000kg weekly - from Malaysia and Indonesia. "Definitely the supply side will be affected because of the weather and the haze. It's almost without sunlight for a few weeks now already, and it's also forecast to continue for a few more weeks," Mr Chew said. "So, we expect the supply for leafy vegetables like lettuce, romaine lettuce … bayam (Chinese spinach), spinach, and all that, to be affected as well." Mr Chew added that supplies of some vegetables from Java, such as watercress and baby kai lan, had already declined by up to 80 per cent.

Mr Cedric Chew, Avo & Co's general manager, told CNA that heads of iceberg lettuce from Malaysia have been about 50 per cent smaller than usual since the start of October.

Leafy vegetables are particularly vulnerable to a lack of sunlight, with prolonged exposure to such conditions affecting their size and yield.

Avo & Co said the conditions are concerning as it imports about a fifth of its produce - around 3,000kg weekly - from Malaysia and Indonesia.

"Definitely the supply side will be affected because of the weather and the haze. It's almost without sunlight for a few weeks now already, and it's also forecast to continue for a few more weeks," Mr Chew said.

"So, we expect the supply for leafy vegetables like lettuce, romaine lettuce … bayam (Chinese spinach), spinach, and all that, to be affected as well."

Mr Chew added that supplies of some vegetables from Java, such as watercress and baby kai lan, had already declined by up to 80 per cent.

SOURCING BEYOND MALAYSIA & INDONESIA

Others have also seen their supplies fall by at least 40 per cent.

These include varieties of lettuce, including romaine, butterhead, green coral and red coral, mainly sourced from Cameron Highlands.

Leafy greens such as bayam and sweet potato leaf from Kulai and Kota Tinggi are also affected.

Tan Ching Hup Vegetables Wholesaler said supplies of cabbages had fallen by around half over the past two weeks.

Owner Tan Hua Ngee said the price of a bag of cabbages from Indonesia had risen by at least 50 per cent, from about S$10 (US$8) to between S$15 and S$16 as of Oct 16, compared to a week prior.

Mr Tan added that if supplies from Indonesia become unavailable, he would look to source vegetables from alternative markets such as China and Vietnam.

To mitigate the impact, Avo & Co has also begun sourcing more produce from countries unaffected by the haze, including Australia and Vietnam.

But these alternatives come at a cost.

A head of romaine lettuce sourced from Malaysia typically costs between S$2 and S$3, Mr Chew said.

The same vegetable imported from Australia can cost between S$6 and S$8, more than double the price.

The higher price is largely due to transport costs, as produce from Australia has to be flown in rather than transported overland.

"We will look at other countries which are not affected by the haze," Mr Chew said. "But definitely the cost will be a lot higher as compared to Malaysia."

Still, the firm is looking to absorb as much of the additional cost for now.

"We are serving mainly food services customers, restaurants (that) have a fixed menu pricing," said Mr Chew.

"We try to absorb as much as we can, but if it's for the long run, then of course we will have to pass the cost on to our customers."

Leafy vegetables at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre. (Photo: CNA/Natalie Ong)

Sellers at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre also warned that fruit quality could suffer if hazy conditions persist.

A staff member at Chia Yong Joo Trading said fruits such as pineapples, watermelons and honeydews require sufficient sunlight to develop sweetness.

"Pineapples require a lot of sunlight to grow. If the haze persists, it'll be very difficult for them to grow and sweeten," Mr Ng Choo Kooi said, adding that it was the same case for honeydews and watermelons.

Thong Hai Trading manager Yeo Wei Li likewise warned that fruit sizes could shrink if the haze persists.

"If the situation doesn't improve, we expect many produce to be affected due to the lack of sunlight. Maybe in another four weeks or so," he said.

Pineapples for sale at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre. (Photo: CNA/Natalie Ong)

DEMAND FALLS AS HAZE PERSISTS

At the same time, importers based at the centre said demand has weakened as hazy conditions dampen business activity.

Mr Jeffrey Munang, a wholesale manager at Freshmart, noted that orders from hawkers and restaurants had fallen by between 20 and 30 per cent since early October.

Some fruit sellers are also taking at least twice as long to clear their stock, compared with a day previously.

"Lately, they say one item can probably last them two to three days to sell off," Mr Munang said.

A box of iceberg cabbage from Malaysia. (Photo: CNA/Natalie Ong)

IMPACT OF HAZE ON LOCAL FARMS

Some local farms are also feeling the impact of haze, though in varying ways.

Outdoor vegetable farm MEOD in Lim Chu Kang, which grows a variety of greens from bok choy to mesclun, said the reduced sunlight is causing slower crop growth.

"The haze reduces the intensity of sunlight, the plants aren't getting enough energy for optimal photosynthesis," said managing director Ong Boon Chuan.

"We might see a delay in harvest times or slightly lower yields if the haze persists."

Meanwhile, local egg producer Seng Choon said its local production and imports from Malaysia under other brands have remained unaffected by the haze.

Supplier Fish Farmer also said its fish are unaffected.

"But haze does have an effect on my staff. So they are provided with masks, and we schedule the work so they have adequate rest," CEO Malcolm Ong added.

Beyond farm operations, the haze has also disrupted visitor activities.

Edible Garden City said it has rescheduled outdoor farm tours since early October, with about a quarter of its outdoor activities either postponed or moved indoors.

Industry players warned that the impact could become more pronounced if hazy conditions persist for another three to four weeks.

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一位批发商表示，现在马来西亚产的典型冰山生菜的个头比往常小了约 50%。

据Avo & Co总经理Cedric Chew称，自10月初以来，马来西亚产的典型卷心莴苣的个头比往年小了约50%。(图片：CNA/Natalie Ong)

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新加坡：东南亚部分地区持续数周的雾霾开始影响新加坡进口的蔬菜，批发商反映农产品个头变小、供应紧张、价格上涨。

专家表示，雾霾的影响可能会波及该地区受雾霾影响的广大地区，因为阳光减少会扰乱光合作用，减缓蔬菜生长。

东南亚研究所-尤索夫伊萨克研究所东南亚气​​候变化项目访问高级研究员保罗·滕博士估计，今年东南亚多达 7000 万公顷的农田可能受到了严重的雾霾影响，占该地区农业用地的一半以上。

在巴西班让批发中心，摊主们表示，这种影响越来越明显。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 Avo & Co总经理Cedric Chew先生告诉CNA，自10月初以来，马来西亚进口的卷心莴苣的个头比往常小了约50%。叶类蔬菜特别容易受到日照不足的影响，长时间暴露在这种环境下会影响它们的大小和产量。Avo & Co表示，这种情况令人担忧，因为该公司每周从马来西亚和印度尼西亚进口约五分之一的农产品，约3000公斤。“天气和雾霾肯定会影响供应。现在已经连续几周几乎没有阳光了，而且预计这种情况还会持续几周，”Chew先生说。 “因此，我们预计生菜、罗马生菜、苋菜（中国菠菜）、菠菜等绿叶蔬菜的供应也会受到影响。”周先生补充说，来自爪哇岛的一些蔬菜，例如西洋菜和嫩芥兰，供应量已经下降了高达80%。

Avo & Co 的总经理 Cedric Chew 先生告诉 CNA，自 10 月初以来，马来西亚冰山莴苣的个头比往常小了约 50%。

叶类蔬菜特别容易受到阳光不足的影响，长时间暴露在这种环境下会影响其大小和产量。

Avo & Co 表示，这种情况令人担忧，因为该公司每周从马来西亚和印度尼西亚进口约五分之一的产品（约 3000 公斤）。

周先生表示：“天气和雾霾肯定会影响供应方面。已经连续几周几乎没有阳光了，而且预计这种情况还会持续几周。”

“因此，我们预计生菜、罗马生菜……苋菜（中国菠菜）、菠菜等绿叶蔬菜的供应也会受到影响。”

周先生补充说，来自爪哇岛的一些蔬菜，如西洋菜和嫩芥兰的供应量已经下降了高达 80%。

马来西亚和印度尼西亚以外的采购

其他一些企业的供应量也下降了至少 40%。

其中包括多种生菜，如罗马生菜、奶油生菜、绿珊瑚生菜和红珊瑚生菜，主要产自金马伦高原。

来自古来和哥打丁宜的菹草和红薯叶等绿叶蔬菜也受到影响。

陈清合蔬菜批发商表示，过去两周卷心菜的供应量减少了约一半。

店主陈华义表示，截至10月16日，从印度尼西亚进口的一袋卷心菜的价格比一周前上涨了至少50%，从约10新元（8美元）涨至15新元至16新元之间。

谭先生补充说，如果来自印度尼西亚的供应中断，他将考虑从中国和越南等其他市场采购蔬菜。

为了减轻影响，Avo & Co 也开始从未受雾霾影响的国家（包括澳大利亚和越南）采购更多农产品。

但这些替代方案都是有代价的。

周先生表示，一颗产自马来西亚的罗马生菜通常售价在 2 新元到 3 新元之间。

从澳大利亚进口的同一种蔬菜售价在 6 新元到 8 新元之间，价格是本地价格的两倍多。

价格较高主要是由于运输成本，因为澳大利亚的农产品必须空运而不是陆路运输。

周先生说：“我们会考察其他未受雾霾影响的国家。但可以肯定的是，这些国家的成本会比马来西亚高得多。”

不过，该公司目前正试图尽可能多地承担这部分额外成本。

周先生说：“我们主要服务于餐饮服务客户，即那些菜单价格固定的餐厅。”

“我们会尽力承担大部分成本，但如果从长远来看，我们当然必须将成本转嫁给客户。”

巴西班让批发中心的叶类蔬菜。 （照片：CNA/Natalie Ong）

巴西班让批发中心的商贩也警告说，如果雾霾天气持续下去，水果质量可能会受到影响。

嘉永珠贸易公司的一名员工表示，菠萝、西瓜和哈密瓜等水果需要充足的阳光才能变得甜美。

“菠萝需要充足的阳光才能生长。如果雾霾持续下去，它们将很难生长变甜，”吴祖贵先生说，并补充说，哈密瓜和西瓜的情况也是如此。

通海贸易公司经理杨伟利也警告说，如果雾霾持续下去，水果个头可能会变小。

“如果情况没有好转，我们预计很多农产品会因为缺乏阳光而受到影响。可能再过四周左右就会这样，”他说。

巴西班让批发中心出售的菠萝。 （照片：CNA/Natalie Ong）

雾霾持续，需求下降

与此同时，该中心的进口商表示，由于雾霾天气抑制了商业活动，需求有所减弱。

Freshmart 的批发经理 Jeffrey Munang 先生指出，自 10 月初以来，来自小贩和餐馆的订单下降了 20% 至 30%。

与前一天相比，一些水果摊贩清理库存所需的时间至少增加了一倍。

“最近，他们说一件商品大概能卖两到三天，”穆南先生说。

一箱来自马来西亚的卷心白菜。（图片：CNA/Natalie Ong）

雾霾对当地农场的影响

一些当地农场也感受到了雾霾的影响，尽管影响程度各不相同。

位于林厝港的户外蔬菜农场 MEOD 种植着从小白菜到什锦沙拉菜等各种绿叶蔬菜，该农场表示，日照减少导致作物生长速度减慢。

“雾霾降低了阳光强度，植物无法获得足够的能量进行最佳的光合作用，”总经理王文泉说。

“如果雾霾持续下去，我们可能会看到收割时间推迟或产量略有下降。”

与此同时，本地鸡蛋生产商盛春表示，其本地生产和从马来西亚进口的其他品牌鸡蛋均未受到雾霾的影响。

供应商鱼农也表示，他们的鱼没有受到影响。

“但雾霾确实对我的员工有影响。所以我们给他们提供口罩，并安排好工作时间，让他们有充足的休息，”首席执行官马尔科姆·翁补充道。

除了农业生产之外，雾霾也影响了游客的活动。

可食用花园城市表示，自 10 月初以来，他们已经重新安排了户外农场参观活动，其中约四分之一的户外活动要么被推迟，要么被转移到室内。

业内人士警告称，如果雾霾天气持续三到四周，其影响可能会更加明显。

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