Lettuce to the Editor
IN THESE days of worry and doom and gloom over the threat of World War III, it is good to try and see the funnier side of life.
Like the report last week in Cyprus Today about the Prime Minister’s comments that the prices of “many” products, including FOOD, FRUIT, and VEGETABLES, have fallen by “more than 50 per cent” (February 19, page 8).
One of the products he singled out was LETTUCE, which had the biggest price fall, down by 32.24 per cent.
So I decided I would try and live on lettuce all the week — a lettuce sandwich for lunch and lettuce and potatoes for dinner.
I calculated I saved quite a bit of money and lost several pounds in weight. I am waiting now for the Prime Minister to say what else has come down in price so that I know what I can save money on next week with my diet!
Amazingly, just below the article about the fall of some prices by more than 50 per cent, was another news item stating “Rising production costs hit fruit and veg prices”!
And that stated that the price of cucumbers, (4050TL per kilo) tomatoes, 35TL and peppers, 40TL, are all more expensive. So I won’t be having them for breakfast next week! I love reading some of the articles in the Cyprus Today. It cheers me up no end.
Richard Chamberlain, Ozanköy
Editor’s note: Without wanting to dampen Mr Chamberlain’s appetite for his lettuce diet, it should be noted that the story did not state that the Prime Minister had said lettuce was among the products that had fallen in price by more than 50 per cent. In the absence of any specific examples, the story noted that lettuce was the food product that saw the biggest price fall according to January’s official inflation figures. We will endeavour to bring news of February’s inflation data, which we hope will reflect the price reductions the PM has spoken of and so that Mr Chamberlain may be able to enjoy a more nutritious diet.