SARS Closes Farmers Market
SINGAPORE - A SARS outbreak caused the closing of Singapore's largest wholesale vegetable market this week, and a quarantine of all of its 2,400 workers.
Stocks at food stalls ran low and prices on some items doubled after the government announced a 10-day closer of the Pasir Panjang Whole Center, through which 70 percent of Singapore's produce passes.
The 24-hour market was shut late on Saturday after three workers contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome. The government said it was working with supermarkets to increase direct imports from Australia, New Zealand and the United States, but conceded that Singapore faces a significant disruption of its vegetable supply until the market is scheduled to reopen on April 29.
Stocks at food stalls ran low and prices on some items doubled after the government announced a 10-day closer of the Pasir Panjang Whole Center, through which 70 percent of Singapore's produce passes.
The 24-hour market was shut late on Saturday after three workers contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome. The government said it was working with supermarkets to increase direct imports from Australia, New Zealand and the United States, but conceded that Singapore faces a significant disruption of its vegetable supply until the market is scheduled to reopen on April 29.