A premature move

I refer to the article Pitkali Prices Posted Online (November 6) and would like to record that such a move is premature for the following reasons:

1. The timing is useless - What is the use of reading Monday's prices today? Yesterday was another market day that could have changed prices in all aspects. The system practised in the Pitkalija cannot provide for such a system unless prices are instantly inputted into a computer system as is done in other markets. Malta is considered to be among the top countries in IT yet our market relies on handwritten bits of paper which are handed over to the Pitkalija Administration for "proper" recording the next day that sales are carried out.

2. Assuming a miracle takes place and the Pitkala are fully furnished with a computerised system tomorrow, and the Pitkalija will be in a position to issue the prices instantly as they did in Guernsey C.I. 44 years ago, that would still not reflect reality because the best that can be done at present is issue the highest, lowest or the medium price which was what the government opted for. Although in principle this is correct because the price should reflect first, second and third grade produce, this cannot be done unless grading starts to take place in parallel.

3. For example last Thursday the price for potatoes at TQPG was €0.45 per kilo whereas the price I see online is €0.27.72. Now this difference could be attributed to either the price rising from Monday's market or more likely because the €0.45 represents the price for a class 1 potato while the average price includes the second and third class potato. So without putting a grade to the product it is pointless publishing prices.

4. To complicate matters further, although cabbages, cauliflowers and lettuces are sold by the box, the prices quoted online are by the kilo. While TQPG agree that the price should be quoted by the kilo, the fact remains that to date, the tradition has always been to buy by the box. To add insult to injury a box could contain anything from five to 12 cabbages! Imagine working out an accurate price with all that!

I know the intention to improve matters is there but jumping the gun before getting one's house in order can do more harm than good, causing more confusion than leaving piece of mind to the consumers.