Even before his onions are fully grown, Philippine farmer Luis Angeles races to harvest the crop and cash in on eye-watering prices for a vegetable that has become a luxury item in the country.
But prices remain stubbornly high and onion farmers like Angeles have been harvesting earlier than usual to reap the windfall. As onion memes spread on social media, the humble vegetable has become a symbol of wealth in the poverty-afflicted country.Philippine Airlines crew members on a recent flight from the Middle East were busted trying to smuggle a few bags of the pungent commodity through Manila's airport.It is not the first time the Philippines has experienced a shortage of a basic food staple that caused prices to spike -- sugar, salt and rice have all been hit in the past.
President Ferdinand Marcos appointed himself agriculture secretary to overhaul the near-moribund industry, which accounts for about a quarter of the country's employment but only makes up 10 percent of gross domestic product. The recent lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, which allowed the resumption of food-focused festivals and family gatherings for Christmas, triggered soaring demand for onions.
_Business Bringing tears to my eyes 👀 😢
_Business Also here in SA has started 🙃
_Business 'One day the poor will have nothing to eat but the rich'
_Business
_Business Luxury
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