Japan vegetable prices surge due to weather-driven shortages

Leafy vegetable prices are surging across Japan due to unfavorable weather conditions, including extreme heat followed by prolonged rainfall and low sunlight in key production areas.

In retail markets, lettuce prices have more than doubled, with some stores selling heads for 298 yen compared to 130 yen earlier in the month. Other vegetables, such as komatsuna and spinach, have also seen significant price hikes. At the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, lettuce wholesale prices reached approximately 431 yen per kilogram, more than 2.5 times the price recorded during the same period last year.

The shortage is impacting the food service industry. Restaurants, including burger shops, report difficulties sourcing specific varieties like green curl lettuce. Some businesses have been forced to substitute with standard iceberg lettuce, which has altered the visual presentation of their signature products. Managers noted that procurement costs for these substitutes have also risen significantly, reaching nearly 400 yen per unit.