Weekly summary – fresh-market.pl price analysis (22-28.06.2009)

June was exceptionally rainy this year. Much rain and the lack of sun considerably influenced the market of fresh fruit and vegetables. The weather made the harvest difficult and adversely influenced the quality of products what in consequences had important effect on supply and prices of fruit and vegetables on the market.

Last week one could see it clearly in case of cherries and strawberries. The majority of these fruits have the poor quality being as a result of the unfavourable weather. Such fruits, which are easily rotting and it is difficult to keep their quality, have the low prices. From the other side on the market there is big demand for cherries and strawberries of good quality and the prices of such fruits are high. Last week the average price of cherries was 3.50 PLN (0.77 euro)/kg.
As we wrote last week it is difficult to find cherries which would be suitable for export or even for cooling. So the price of cherries of good quality is at least 5 PLN (1.10 euro)/kg. The similar situation is for strawberries. The average price of strawberries is 3.50 PLN (0.77 euro)/kg but one should remember that such level is caused by high prices of good quality fruits intended for export. Last week prices of variety Marmolada intended for export exceeded the level of 5 PLN (1.10 euro)/kg. The price of strawberries for processing increased a little. The minimum price of strawberries with stalks was 0.80 PLN (0.17 euro)/kg and 1.30 PLN (0.28 euro)/kg for strawberries without stalks.

In the end of June the average purchase price of gooseberries was a little bit lower. While at the beginning of the purchase period the price of gooseberries was 2 – 2.50 PLN (0.44-0.55 euro)/kg, at the end of last week the price was 1.60 – 1.80 PLN (0.35-0.40 euro)/kg.

On the market of fresh vegetables one could observe declines in prices. Last week the prices of following vegetables decreased: cauliflowers, broccoli, early cabbage, Chinese cabbage, early carrot and beets as well as tomatoes. Prices of cucumbers fluctuated considerably.

The average price of broccoli packed into cartons decreased from 2.20 (0.48 euro) to 1.90 PLN (0.42 euro)/pcs week-on-week. The average price of cauliflowers decreased from 2.25 PLN (0.49 euro)/pcs at the beginning of last week to 1.60 PLN (0.35 euro)/pcs at the end of the week. The average price of early cabbage decreased from 0.45 (0.10 euro) to 0.35 PLN (0.08 euro)/kg and the price of Chinese cabbage from 1.28 PLN (0.28 euro)/kg to 1.15 PLN (0.25 euro)/kg. The young carrot got cheaper – from the average level 2.30 PLN (0.50 euro)/kg to 1.20 PLN (0.26 euro)/kg. Prices of tomatoes also decreased. The average price of tomatoes B was 2.25 PLN (0.49 euro)/kg at the end of the week while at the beginning of the last week it was 2.92 PLN (0.64 euro)/kg Tomatoes BB became cheaper from 3.08 PLN (0.68 euro)/kg to 2.68 PLN (0.59 euro)/kg week-on-week.
As regards greenhouse cucumbers, their price decreased from 1.80 PLN (0.40 euro)/kg to 1.55 PLN (0.34 euro)/kg for long cucumbers and from 1.90 PLN (0.42 euro)/kg to 1.80 PLN (0.40 euro)/kg for short cucumbers. However at the end of the week prices of cucumbers increased due to lower supply. The average price of long cucumbers was 1.85 PLN (0.41 euro)/kg and the price of short ones was 2.50 PLN (0.55 euro)/kg.

Source: fresh-market.pl (ms)