Riga Central Market ahead of Nov. 18: prices and a shrunken selection
Ahead of Latvia's Independence Day, Riga Central Market still offers everything for a holiday table, but only two of its five historic pavilions are open. Jauns.lv checked the prices of produce, meat, dairy and fish.
Riga Central Market, one of the largest food markets in the Latvian capital, can still supply everything needed for the November 18 national holiday table. The choice and room for haggling have shrunk, however, as only two of the five historic pavilions — the Gastronomy and Fish pavilions — are open to shoppers. This has cut the total trading area for vendors by two thirds. The prices were surveyed by the news portal Jauns.lv.
What happened to the pavilions
The Vegetable Pavilion was closed in early 2022 because of a storm-damaged roof. After a break of more than three and a half years it reopened temporarily, but it is now being rebuilt for meat trading. The former Meat Pavilion was closed due to its poor technical condition, and the Dairy Pavilion is shut for renovation; it is planned to become a catering zone. In the Gastronomy Pavilion, dairy and bread sellers are squeezed in beside restaurants and cafés, while in the Fish Pavilion fish traders share space with meat sellers.
Visitor numbers have fallen: supermarkets and smaller farmers' markets have taken away part of the customers. Rīgas nami, a municipal company, announced a programme of about 22 million euros in investments a month ago, to be carried out by the market's centenary in 2030.
Prices
Apples cost 1–2.5 euros per kilogram, potatoes and carrots 0.8–1 euro, and garlic 7 euros. Cucumbers range from 3 to 8 euros per kilogram. Mandarins cost 2–4 euros per kilogram.
Pork costs 4.5–6 euros per kilogram, beef 11–15 euros, lamb 13 euros and veal 17 euros. Curd cheese costs 4–7.25 euros per kilogram and homemade cheese 10 euros. Local honey in a half-litre jar costs 6 euros.
In the Fish Pavilion, carp is sold for six euros per kilogram, while the Swedish delicacy of fermented herring is available for 28 euros per tin.
