BEIJING — The price of China's major fresh farm produce increased in January, with vegetable price leading the monthly growth, data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed.

The average wholesale price of 28 vegetables monitored by the ministry climbed 13.9 percent month on month, up 24 percent from the same period last year.

Fruit price also posted robust growth, with the average wholesale price of six key fruits monitored by the ministry registering a 7-percent monthly growth.

The ministry attributed the price rises to the strong demand before the Spring Festival, higher costs of production and transportation and the influence of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The average pork price registered a 3.7-percent monthly growth while the average market prices of beef and mutton both edged up 1.5 percent month on month. Weighted average wholesale price for aquatic products went up 2.9 percent month on month, data from the ministry showed.

The prices of poultry and eggs fell month on month in the period due to the release of production capacity and suspension of live poultry trade in some areas during the epidemic outbreak.

In January, the monthly average fresh milk retail price in monitored cities was the same from December 2019, dropping 4.1 percent year-on-year, according to China Price Information Network.