Colombia: Potato Price in Medellín Climbs to 3,500 Pesos per kg From 2,000 as Dry Weather Cuts Supply
Potatoes at the Plaza Minorista in Medellín now cost about 3,500 pesos per kg, up from 2,000. DANE data for 19–25 September confirm higher potato prices as supply from Antioquia and Nariño falls.
Potato prices have risen sharply in Medellín. Traders link the increase to dry weather and weaker harvests. According to Blu Radio, potatoes at the Plaza Minorista market used to cost about 2,000 pesos per kg. They now cost 3,500 pesos per kg.
That is a rise of about 75%. Edison Palacio, manager of the Plaza Minorista, said the lack of water has stopped crops from producing as expected. The radio station linked the higher food prices in the city to the El Niño weather pattern.
Official data confirm the trend
The national statistics office DANE publishes weekly wholesale prices through its SIPSA system. Its bulletin for 19–25 September reported higher prices for two potato types: capira and nevada.
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According to DANE, less capira potato arrived from Antioquia and Nariño. This lower supply pushed prices up during the week. The bulletin also reported lower arrivals of parda pastusa potatoes in Florencia, in the Caquetá department.
The SIPSA bulletin covers the main wholesale markets in the country. In Medellín, it tracks the Central Mayorista de Antioquia and the Plaza Minorista José María Villa.
Dry weather and potatoes
Potato crops need steady soil moisture while the tubers form. When rain fails, yields fall and tubers stay small. Fewer tubers then reach city markets, and prices rise.
According to Blu Radio, other basic foods in Medellín are also getting more expensive. For potatoes, the rise is about 1,500 pesos per kg.
Why it matters
For consumers, potatoes are a basic food, so the increase affects household budgets. For growers who still have a good crop, higher prices can improve income. Growers with poor yields may gain little, because they have less to sell.
Buyers and processors in Medellín should watch the next SIPSA bulletins. They will show whether supply from Antioquia and Nariño recovers or falls further. The price level of 3,500 pesos per kg comes from a single market report. DANE data confirm the direction of prices, but not this exact figure.
Photo: Potato sellers, a painting by the Colombian artist Ramón Torres Méndez (illustrative). Ramón Torres Méndez / Wikimedia Commons, public domain
