Sofia, Bulgaria – As Easter approaches, Bulgarians are seeing a sharp rise in the prices of staple foods, particularly eggs and vegetables, according to a report by Nova TV.
Compared to the same period last year, the cost of chicken eggs has increased by 18 stotinki per piece, while cucumbers have seen a price jump of over 30 stotinki.
Consumers now find themselves paying up to 6 leva per kilogram for Bulgarian cucumbers, although most purchase them individually due to the high cost.
Vendors at local markets are witnessing consumer caution, especially as families prepare traditional Easter meals.
Mariana Kandova, a produce seller, says a simple salad consisting of one head of lettuce, a bunch each of parsley, radishes, and spring onions, plus one cucumber, now costs around 7 leva — a price that feels steep for many households.
The price hikes, particularly in eggs, are attributed to a mix of economic and seasonal factors.
Ivo Gergovski, a poultry farmer who raises his own chickens, believes there are two main drivers behind the increase: higher feed prices and the predictable surge in demand ahead of major holidays.
“In other countries, prices drop due to holiday promotions, but here they go up,” Gergovski observed.
Gergovski’s lifestyle is a departure from the urban norm. Diagnosed with a serious illness nearly two decades ago, he left the city and moved to a nearby village, where he began raising chickens and growing his own food.
The decision, he says, not only improved his health but gave him a sense of purpose. “Caring for birds played a key role in my recovery,” he shared.
Today, he lives what he fondly calls a “closed rural cycle.” His household practices strict waste separation, with food scraps repurposed for chickens, cats, or dogs.
Recyclables like paper, glass, and metal are discarded appropriately. This sustainable lifestyle allows him to avoid relying on store-bought produce or eggs — a financial and ethical advantage, he believes, especially during periods of inflation.
For city dwellers, however, the situation is less forgiving. They are not only faced with higher costs but also concerns over product origin and quality.
Gergovski advises shoppers to read food labels carefully, particularly on eggs, to ensure transparency regarding the source and farming practices.
The current price surge highlights broader systemic issues in Bulgaria’s food market — ones that tend to repeat each festive season.
Despite inflation stabilizing in other sectors, food remains a sensitive area, where even small increases can significantly impact consumer behavior.
As Easter nears, many Bulgarian households are weighing the cost of tradition. For some, like Gergovski, self-reliance offers a buffer against market fluctuations.
For others, the holiday meal may require careful planning — and a bit of sacrifice — to maintain cherished customs in the face of rising prices.