Timely, transparent information helps growers, traders and consumers make better decisions. FAO brings together producer, wholesale, retail and international prices, but each measure answers a different question. A global index is not the price at your local market.
Compare like with like
Before using a figure, record the product and variety, quality or grade, unit and packaging, market, date, currency and point in the supply chain. “Tomatoes at 20” means little unless you know whether that is pesos per kilogram at a wholesale market, the farmgate price or the consumer price.
Look at a series, not a snapshot
Record prices over several weeks and, if possible, compare them with the same season in earlier years. That helps distinguish a seasonal change from an unusual one. Note events that may explain a change, such as rain, a road closure, a holiday, supply from another region or a difference in quality.
Three prices for a negotiation
- Floor: the minimum that covers variable costs and immediate commitments.
- Target: a price that covers total costs, risk and labor.
- Reference: the range observed from official sources and comparable buyers.
If an offer is higher, ask about the terms: volume, credit, rejection rules, packaging and payment date. If it is lower, calculate whether reducing losses, pooling volume, grading or changing packaging would improve the net return. The highest quoted price does not always leave the best margin.
A five-minute weekly record
Save the source, product, market, minimum and maximum price, unit, quality, transport cost and offer received. Use the same sheet each time. At the end of the season, compare the expected price with the price received and your actual net return; the difference will improve the next plan.
Avoid financial decisions based on one website. Check national official sources, your target market and actual buyers. Prices change, and Garden Feels does not replace commercial advice.
Reference sources
Sources checked September 7, 2026.