Chinese green onions these green and white stalky vegetables are a staple ingredient in Chinese cuisine. But as homemakers and restaurateurs alike have discovered in recent weeks - that mildly tangy taste doesn't come cheap.

Green onions - whether wok-tossed in fried rice, or scattered atop a fresh river fish, they’re a tasty addition to any Chinese meal. But since February, these elongated green stalks have become more and more expensive, especially in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shandong.

At this agricultural market in Guangzhou, shoppers are paying 10 yuan for just two green onions - a price they consider to be too high.

Vegetable vendor said: "The price has been expensive for more than 2 weeks now. It has risen from 2.5 to 3.5 yuan, and now 5 yuan per half kilo."

The average wholesale price for half a kilo of spring onions reached a high of 3.6 yuan at the Beijing agricultural produce market, while the price was 2.4 yuan in Shandong.

Vegetable vendor said: "The price was much lower last year. It was usually a little more than 1 yuan per half kilo."

So what’s behind this sudden hike? Analysts say, prices of the green onion were particularly cheap this time last year - you could buy two kilograms for less than one yuan. As a result, vendors decided against storing more green onions at the end of last year. That means - a lack of stock early this year, a period when spring vegetables are still in the process of growing. Once the harvest comes and fresh seasonal green onions hit the market - analysts say prices will become more palatable again.

vivi笔记：

green onions：大葱
staple ingredient：主食成分
fried rice：炒饭
agricultural market：农业品市场
wholesale price：批发价
spring onions：葱

口译备考之看英语视频练复述系列>>