It’s that time of the year again. Christmas and New Year are around the corner. The lights, the carols, the family gatherings, the endless cooking… but also the one thing every shopper fears: food price increase.
Frozen chicken that seemed affordable past weeks can suddenly turn to “gold.” Tomatoes, onions, and even vegetable oil prices may start acting funny. By the time you’re done shopping, your budget has doubled, and there’s still half the list left.
This is just the truth: these price hikes are not magic. They happen for specific reasons….increased demand, transportation pressure, and market assumption. But, the good news is, you don’t have to be a victim every festive season. If you know what items usually go up and how to prepare, you’ll save yourself stress and money.
Here are 5 food items whose prices always rise during festive seasons and how you can stay ahead of the market.
1. Rice
Rice is the king of festive meals. Whether local or imported, the price changes during this period. It can be eaten as jollof, fried, coconut, or plain white with stew. Because demand rises in December, sellers take advantage to increase prices. Import restrictions and transport costs also play a role.
It’s always advisable to buy your rice at least 3-4 weeks before the festive rush. Store it in a cool corner or dry container to prevent weevils.
2. Chicken And Meat
No Christmas is complete without chicken or meat. Unfortunately, everyone wants it at the same time. Farmers and sellers know this and adjust prices. Transport and cold storage issues add more cost. To avoid the price hike, buy early and freeze. If you don’t have a freezer, consider smoked chicken or dried meat (kilishi, ponmo) which last longer.
3. Tomatoes And Fresh Pepper
These are always in high demand for stews, soups, and party meals. If supply falls, say, because of fewer trucks from the suppliers, prices shoot up.
It is better to buy in bulk before the season, blend, boil, and store in jars or freeze. Alternatively, dry your tomatoes and peppers for long-term use.
4. Onions
Onions are in almost every meal, and they often add in price during festive seasons. Poor storage and long-distance transport can also reduce supply, making prices go up.
You can buy in bulk early, keep in a cool, ventilated basket and avoid mixing with potatoes to prevent spoilage. They will stay fresh for months without spoilage.
5. Vegetable Oil
From frying meat and puff-puff to cooking stews, oil demand increases during Christmas and New Year. Import costs and festive hoarding make it even worse.
It is better to buy in advance. Buy sealed kegs of oil. It stores well for months if kept in a cool, dry place.
The secret to avoiding festive price foodstuff hikes is planning and timing. Don’t wait until Christmas week to shop. Buy shelf-stable and freezable items weeks earlier, preserve them properly, and only leave the very fresh items (like vegetables) for last-minute shopping.
At Iyaloja Direct, we take the stress of ‘market runs’ off our customers by doing their foodstuff shopping for them and giving them unbeatable prices they won’t get in their neighbourhood markets. Because we shop for many customers at the same time, they pay wholesale price regardless of how small they are buying. Join our foodstuff sharing groups to beat the market rush and enjoy wholesale prices on your foodstuffs no matter how small, or order on our website www.iyalojadirect.com/shop and shop smartly.
