Smaller produce, higher prices: Haze hits vegetable imports into Singapore

To mitigate the impact, Avo & Co has also begun sourcing more produce from countries unaffected by the haze, including Australia and Vietnam.

But these alternatives come at a cost.

A head of romaine lettuce sourced from Malaysia typically costs between S$2 and S$3, Mr Chew said.

The same vegetable imported from Australia can cost between S$6 and S$8, more than double the price.

The higher price is largely due to transport costs, as produce from Australia has to be flown in rather than transported overland.

“We will look at other countries which are not affected by the haze,” Mr Chew said. “But definitely the cost will be a lot higher as compared to Malaysia.”

Still, the firm is looking to absorb as much of the additional cost for now.

“We are serving mainly food services customers, restaurants (that) have a fixed menu pricing,” said Mr Chew.

“We try to absorb as much as we can, but if it’s for the long run, then of course we will have to pass the cost on to our customers.”