The price of garlic in China increased forty-fold between March and November 2009. Due to low prices in the previous year, the amount of land set aside for growing garlic in 2009 have been halved in Chinea. As well there been rumours that garlic could help prevent swine flu. It was reported that a high school bought 200 kilograms of garlic and made students eat it to stay healthy. using the supply and demand model explain why the price increased in china in 2009.