Minister of Economy on the high price of lemon: “If I wanted to make ceviche, I would replace it with salted chicken”

Despite the fact that annual inflation in our country fell slightly, the prices of some foods rose to 11.02%, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Information (INEI). This is the case of lemon, which in various markets has tripled its value, affecting the seafood restaurants that prepare ceviche and the pockets of families. In this line, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Alex Contreras, spoke, who gave some recommendations to replace our flagship dish. What did the head of the MEF say? We tell you in the next note.

Lemon price: What recommendations did the MEF give to the cevicherías?

According to the Supply and Price System of the Ministry of Agrarian Development, the price of subtle lemon in the Lima wholesale market ranges between S/280 and S/290 for a box of 23 kilos, which shows a significant increase when compared with normal costs. Even in some retail markets in Lima and the provinces, the value of this citrus can reach S/14 and S/18 per kilo.

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Alex Contreras, spoke about this situation, who suggested that seafood restaurants and other gastronomic businesses prepare dishes such as “salt chicken, seafood rice or some squid offer” to replace ceviche.

“If this week I hoped to prepare a ceviche, I substitute a salted chicken. In the case of cevicherías, they can do a little more than rice with seafood or with a tender of chicharrón de squid. If there is no demand, what is going to happen is that the price is going to adjust”, he explained in the program ‘Punto final’ of Latina.

Lemon price: what did the MEF say about speculators?

There is uncertainty in the population regarding the rise in the price of lemons and other products in the basic family basket. According to the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), the cost of this citrus will decrease between October and November, because the harvest season begins and the supply will begin to increase.

For the Minister of Economy, Alex Contreras, the price of lemons is going to stabilize in the coming weeks or months, in the same way that it happened with chicken or eggs, as production arrives and the consumer reacts. “That is very important because, as consumers, we should not play along with the speculators. Although it is true that there have been problems in the lemon supply, there are also people who speculate”he explained in an interview with Latina.

Finally, Contreras said that it is necessary to reduce consumption in general until more producers begin to obtain more lemon and described the situation that the country is experiencing as a “difficult situation”, but he emphasized the need to make this substitution considering that this citrus is a good perishable.

“We cannot influence, but we can bring imports. The high price is difficult and adjustments have to be made, considering that it is a perishable good. We can make this upward speculation moderate, ”he sentenced.