Veggie prices in Japan suddenly through the roof?

I don't know what is going on. Prices in general have been creeping up for the past year or so, which is understandable, given the rise in the cost of gas. But gas is down a bit now, and suddenly, just in the last few days, the veggie prices here have gone nuts!

At my market, a head of cabbage has gone from about $2.00 to $.300, a daikon or Japanese radish, has gone from $2.50 to $4.00, and cucumbers, which were anywhere from 38 to 50 cents a piece, are now $1.00 each! This is just in a couple of days. I heard several women in the supermarket getting really upset over the daikon, since that is a staple of cooking here.

The weather has not been bad or any serious damage to crops that I know of. I don't get it. Are prices going nuts in the states (or wherever you are) on veggies?

EDIT - UPDATE: I think the veggie department manager at my market must have gone a little nutso - the next day, the prices were all back down to more like normal prices, so they must have gotten a LOT of complaints about the sudden hikes. I talked to the lady at another veggie shop and she said that prices are higher on some items because it's been so wet lately and that some crops have gotten ruined, but that most markets have not gone so overboard.

I'm glad it was an isolated thing.

i don't know about the states, but here in Toronto I don't think I'm noticing any difference.

I don't remember sweet potatos EVER being $5.00 a lb. in the U.S.!  Geez!

Regular potatos too are insane!

Prices have been slowly going up all year, but since summer, produce prices have been fairly consistent here in WA (obviously things go in and out of season and that changes it a bit).

You live in Japan? I envy you.

There was a sale on potatoes two bags of russets for 5 bucks.

And 5lbs for sweet potatoes for 2 dollars. But I go to school in the central valley (food basket of a lot of CA) so prices are really cheap here.

I hear you loaud and clear on that one. It has always been expensive to be a vegi lover here in Japan. I've been living here in Sasebo Japan (Near Nagasaki) for almost eight years. I may have to do with a lot of news about diet fads in japan right now. I know this week alone I haven't been able to find Banana's at my local market because of the banana diet. I had to buy one at the "Daily Mart" for 105 YEN FOR ONE!! WTF... but I had also noticed the cucumbers where on the rise too... I will ask some of my co-workers and post back away later.

There must be something about cucumbers -- because I regularly spend $.66 - $1.00 for each -- the small, regular ones

It's the same here in Korea, udokier. I just got back from a trip to visit family back in the States and I noticed the cucumber prices were up to $1 now as well. I don't buy cabbage so I don't know what that's like but everything is more expensive than when I left. Sadly, it makes it cheaper for me to just buy Korean food out than to try to cook at home. 

If any of the foods you mention are seasonal and now coming from overseas (imported) rather than home-grown then oil prices (shipping) will be mean they are a lot more expensive.   If they're glasshouse grown that has got more expensive.  Shops sometimes face annual cost increases - wages, utilities, rents - and have to pass it on.  It could also be profiteering on the part of shops.... if everyone thinks prices are going up, who are they to disappoint?

UK food inflation has been very high since the start of the year but seems to have peaked for now. 

That's strange.  I live in Kyoto and got cucumbers for 38 yen a piece just yesterday.  Where in Japan do you live?

Original Post by jamieglen:

I hear you loaud and clear on that one. It has always been expensive to be a vegi lover here in Japan. I've been living here in Sasebo Japan (Near Nagasaki) for almost eight years. I may have to do with a lot of news about diet fads in japan right now. I know this week alone I haven't been able to find Banana's at my local market because of the banana diet. I had to buy one at the "Daily Mart" for 105 YEN FOR ONE!! WTF... but I had also noticed the cucumbers where on the rise too... I will ask some of my co-workers and post back away later.

Yes, the banana fad has been very annoying. Some idiot singer claimed that she lost 20 lbs by eating a banana for breakfast every day. Whatever. I have been eating them every morning all my life and they have not made a difference either way, but I sure was p.o'd that I couldn't find bananas last week and now they cost more! But the fad does seem to be blowing over a bit now, as is always the case in fad-crazy Japan.

Original Post by mayumi11:

That's strange. I live in Kyoto and got cucumbers for 38 yen a piece just yesterday. Where in Japan do you live?

Fukuoka.  I think the veggie department manager at my market must have gone a little nutso - the next day, the prices were all back down to more like normal prices, so they must have gotten a LOT of complaints about the sudden hikes.  I talked to the lady at another veggie shop and she said that prices are higher on some items because it's been so wet lately and that some crops have gotten ruined, but that most markets have not gone so overboard.

I'm glad it was an isolated thing.

Original Post by gi-jane:

If any of the foods you mention are seasonal and now coming from overseas (imported) rather than home-grown then oil prices (shipping) will be mean they are a lot more expensive. If they're glasshouse grown that has got more expensive. Shops sometimes face annual cost increases - wages, utilities, rents - and have to pass it on. It could also be profiteering on the part of shops.... if everyone thinks prices are going up, who are they to disappoint?

UK food inflation has been very high since the start of the year but seems to have peaked for now.

That's what made it all the more shocking.  Daikon, cukes and cabbage are all grown locally and they are not out of season. (well, in summer they have to grow the cabbages at higher elevations because it's too hot in the plains, but they are not imported...)

Original Post by jennlett:

There was a sale on potatoes two bags of russets for 5 bucks.

And 5lbs for sweet potatoes for 2 dollars. But I go to school in the central valley (food basket of a lot of CA) so prices are really cheap here.

Lucky you!  When I lived in San Francisco, a couple of years ago, the supermarket prices were worse than here in Japan.

Original Post by jennlett:

There was a sale on potatoes two bags of russets for 5 bucks.

And 5lbs for sweet potatoes for 2 dollars. But I go to school in the central valley (food basket of a lot of CA) so prices are really cheap here.

Lucky you!  When I lived in San Francisco, a couple of years ago, the supermarket prices were worse than here in Japan.