Fresh vegetables have been on sale at Ulaanbaatar’s food markets since the Naadam Festival which is held annually on 10-13 July.

According to a greengrocer at the ‘Bars’ Food Market, there are no Chinese imports, with the exception of onions and garlic.  This is good news, as many Mongolians are wary about the quality if Chinese vegetables, which they believe to be unhealthy due to the excessive use of fertilizers. Most of the potatoes, cabbages and carrots have been sold at the market are from the Jargalant Soum of Tuv Province, the Baganuur District of Ulaanbaatar and Zuunkharaa, a town in Selenge Province.

This year, however, vegetable prices are high. There are two causes for this: firstly, the construction-work currently underway on the Darkhan highway, which links the north of the country to the capital, and secondly, week-long rains towards the end of July which caused delay of the transportation of the vegetables.

Currently, 1kg of potatoes is sold for MNT 2000 at the Bars Food Market. Last year, price of the vegetables was relatively low; 1kg of potatoes fell to MNT 350 in September.