After several weeks of stagnation, the horticultural market seems to be recovering on a national scale. An expected increase in demand and consumption is replacing a period of stasis.
"It's good that the large retail distributors have allowed us to work in recent months," says Gino Puccia, a trader at the Vittoria fruit and vegetable market in the Sicilian province of Ragusa. "If it had been up to the general markets, we would have been left with our arms folded on more than one occasion. No one is to blame; it was a slowdown in consumption that led to a decline in interest in retail horticulture. Whether this was physiological or due to macroeconomic factors, I cannot say."
Gino Puccia
On the other hand, the forecasts of the economic and financial analysts will prove their reliability only when the balance sheets are finalized," ironizes Puccia. The crisis is certainly here, and it is being felt most acutely by families with low average incomes. Many are struggling to make ends meet, and energy consumption is at the top of the list in this new global phase that we can already dare to call a war economy. But the feeling from last Friday to today is that of a world that seems to have awakened from a kind of lethargy.
"And with the awakening of the wholesale markets, there is also a return to consumption," Puccia adds. "Perhaps, with the passing of the colder months, the share of household spending has shifted from bills to food, and finally to fruits and vegetables?"
Despite his cautious approach to the socio-economic context of fruit and vegetable marketing, Gino Puccia provides a more than reasonable analysis of the current period. Although he does not go into great detail, he himself reiterates: "The forecasts of economic and financial analysts prove their reliability only when the balance sheet is closed," that is, when history is consolidated and can be explained with the benefit of hindsight.
In Vittoria's fruit and vegetable market, the increase in demand has led to an improvement in production offers, to return to the more practical facts. And once again it is Puccia who gives us a snapshot of prices: "The commercial dynamics have once again become favorable for the production sector, starting with tomatoes."
Platforms ready for shipment
Tomato prices
"The smooth round tomato," explains the expert, "is currently between €0.90 and €1.50 per kg; the ciliegino variety between €1.30 and €1.80, with peaks of €2.00 per kg; the datterino rosso variety between €1.50 and €2.50 per kg; the midi plum variety (combined piccadilly and pixel) between €1.00 and €1.60 per kg; the costoluto variety between €0.90 and €1.20 per kg. The green oblong salad tomato, on the other hand, ranges from €0.50 to €1.10 per kg; the yellow datterino variety still disappoints with a range of €1.00 to €1.60 per kg. The width of the range is due to the fact that in some areas production is coming to an end, with the result that a slightly worn-out product (often in pieces) arrives on the market, while fresh production is much more expensive."
Prices for other horticultural products
"All the other horticultural crops are doing well or at least in line with the period, with the exception of courgettes," continues Puccia. "The Sicilian cucumber is quoted from €0.80 to €1.00 per kg; the round aubergine from €0.80 to €1.10 per kg; the long aubergine from €0.90 to €1.20 per kg; the purple aubergine from €1.00 to €1.40 per kg; the red and yellow peppers alternate to reach the highest price. At the moment, however, the price for yellow peppers is between €1.80 and €2.00 per kilogram, and for red peppers between €1.60 and €1.90 per kilogram. Finally, the courgette, as expected, is the only reference that suffers from a low price, between € 0.40-0.50 per kg. The hope, as always, is that prices will remain at a level that is satisfactory for the production sector and without overloading at the retail level. For us traders, the balance at the end of the chain is very important."
For more information:
Gino Puccia
+39 336 888 227
giorgiopcc@tiscalinet.it