Consumers group calls for Easter boycott

The Cyprus Consumers Union is calling for a boycott on seasonal fruit and vegetables, warning businesses with spiked prices that supporters of the group will shop only at produce markets where prices drop back down to normal levels.

The consumer advocacy group, according to online daily Kathimerini, said in a statement on Wednesday that a “cartel is using its favourite method of profiteering to double and triple prices in just one week on a number of food items, which are absolutely necessary for Easter.”

The group also blamed the state for “indifference” and a failure to protect “genuinely free competition” and called on businesses to think twice and respect consumers.

“We call on all those businesses that are having second thoughts to take action and show respect to consumers by bringing prices back to reasonable levels like previous weeks,” the CCU said, adding that consumers will shop from those stores to show their gratitude.

The price of fruit and vegetables has gone up for the Easter holidays but neither weather nor demand appeared to justify the jump. Even though there were no frosty weather conditions this year, Easter holiday prices of fruit and vegetables are much higher compared to 2017, according to the Pancyprian Association of Fruit Market Owners.