Pineapple prices plummet on oversupply

LAMPANG, June 22 (TNA) – Prices of pineapples have plummeted to a record low in the northern province of Lampang due to surplus produce, prompting local authorities to step in to assist farmers. Lampang governor Suwat Promsuwan set up a working committee to solve the problem of a pineapple glut. He visited farmers, selling their pineapples at major locations in the provincial seat after he was reported of their trouble. More than 1,000 growers harvested about 23 tonnes of pineapples, grown by more than 1,000 farmers in Lampang. They have been released to the market in June and factories cannot buy the glut. The farmers are selling their produce along the Lampang-Phayao highway before the pineapples become rotten. Currently, the price dropped to about 1.50 baht per kilo. Pineapple growers in 21 provinces are facing the same problems as their peers in Lampang, said the governor, adding he ordered provincial commerce officials to work with other provinces in order to help farmers find the market for the surplus pineapples. (TNA)