Vendors at the green market in Pobrežje Shopping Centre in Montenegro expect the Euromodel, which involves higher salaries, and rising costs of supplies to push up prices. Some sellers say they will hold prices steady, while others plan to adjust them in line with what they pay suppliers. The market report identified higher supply costs as a concern for sellers across food stalls.
Potato seller Darinka Radulović said producers in Nikšić had notified her of a higher wholesale price, which could lift the retail price from 1.20 euros to 1.50 euros per kilogram. She said she had previously paid 70–75 cents per kilogram and had been quoted at least 1 euro for the next supply. Radulović sold potatoes for 1.20 euros per kilogram, or 5 euros for a five-kilogram bag, and onions, carrots and beetroot for 2 euros per kilogram. Her potatoes and onions came from Nikšić, while the carrots and beetroot came from Gusinje. Potatoes could rise to 1.50 euros per kilogram, she said.
Cheese seller Ljubinka Vujković said prices had not changed for a long time, but she expects the Euromodel and higher costs for products she buys to push prices up. She said she would have to raise prices in line with producers’ prices. Her stall sold young cheese for 7 euros, aged cheese for 9 euros, layered Kolašin cheese for 12 euros and young kajmak from Nikšić for 15 euros; aged cheese was selling best. Vujković also cited higher hay costs, saying a bale cost 5–6 euros this year, compared with 2–3 euros in previous years.
Fruit and vegetable seller Milanka Dakić said her prices were generally at last year’s levels and that she had customers. She reported strong demand for vegetables for winter preserves, including gherkins, peppers, cabbage and cauliflower, and said most of her produce, including all her peppers and greens, came from Montenegro. Gherkins, peppers and green tomatoes cost 2.50 euros, cauliflower 3.50 euros and cabbage from Bijelo Polje 1.20 euros. Mandarins cost 1.20 to 1.50 euros, pomegranates 1.50 to 2.50 euros, and pears and apples 2 euros. Dakić said she could not yet assess how the Euromodel would affect prices and would set them according to market reaction and purchase costs.
Vlado Ceklić said he was selling seasonal fruit and pickled salads well and had not changed prices for a long time. He sold pickled vegetables for 4 euros per kilogram, American grapes, Macedonian tomatoes and peppers for 2 euros, and olives for 5 euros. Stuffed peppers and red peppers were selling best, he said. Ceklić said he would not raise prices for fruit and vegetables despite salary increases and market changes, adding that his prices had been unchanged for an extended period.
Flower seller Bisera Kovačević said purchase prices for some flowers had risen by about 20%, but sellers had not increased retail prices because flowers were a luxury rather than a necessity. She hoped prices would not rise. A bouquet at her stall cost 10 euros or more, and she imported flowers from Ecuador, Colombia and other countries. The market also had demand for greens, potatoes, mandarins, pomegranates and seasonal vegetables, while old cheese was the best-selling dairy product, according to vendors.
