Imported seeds damaged the production of tomatoes this year and caused an increase in the price of tomatoes, which reached 4 EGP (U.S. $0.70) per kilo. Egypt's pesticides are expensive and cannot be afforded to treat the effects on imported tomatoes. A member of the Fruit and Vegetables Branch of the Chamber of Commerce, Galal al-Taher, confirmed that Egyptian tomatoes have been affected by seeds imported from Europe, which will lead to lack of crop production and consequently the increase in prices. Al-Taher said vegetable prices will drop from the beginning of the month due to the end of the cold season, including the prices of eggplant and zucchini. Al-Taher said the prices of fruit have settled in general. The price of bananas, however, increased at the beginning of May to 5.5 EGP (U.S. $1) per kilo and is expected to rise in price well into the summer.
