{"id":14516,"date":"2026-07-08T18:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T23:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=14516"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:44:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:44:19","slug":"tierras-altas-potato-and-onion-oversupply-hits-farmers-hard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/business-economy\/tierras-altas-potato-and-onion-oversupply-hits-farmers-hard\/","title":{"rendered":"Tierras Altas Potato and Onion Oversupply Hits Farmers Hard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the highlands of western Panama, a paradox is unfolding. Farmers in the Tierras Altas region<\/a> are watching their fields yield bumper crops of potatoes and onions, yet many are struggling to break even. The problem is simple math: too much supply chasing too little demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sara Navarro, a local merchant who buys directly from growers, described the current market reality. “Right now, a pound of potatoes in the field is going for 32 cents, and onions are between 30 and 34 cents. That’s really low,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Sales are very weak across all products” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The situation stems from a combination of favorable weather and shifting agricultural patterns. Official projections from the Panama Ministry of Agricultural Development<\/a> had predicted a potato production deficit by July. Instead, ideal growing conditions boosted yields well beyond expectations. For onions, the oversupply was compounded by shipments arriving from Panama’s central provinces, adding even more product to an already saturated market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n