As reported by Roberto Bortolotti, a specialist in brassicas and an operator at Caab in Bologna, first prices exceeded the threshold of €2/kg, then they dropped to half that amount.
"Three weeks ago, top-quality cabbage sold at more than €2/kg as availability was low and everybody was looking for them. However, with such high prices, consumption started to slow down and, as soon as larger quantities became available, the prices dropped to less than €1/kg."
Producers who were more careful still have some high-quality produce available, "while others waited to harvest, to save on costs, meaning that now the produce is not uniform and driving quotations down."
The situation was steadier for broccoli, with peaking prices of around €1.50-1.80/kg "Then they settled at around little more than €1/kg."
As for black cabbage, quantities are not very high, with produce coming from southern Italy at prices of around €2.00-2.50/kg.
The availability of Savoy cabbage is lower, so prices increased towards €1.
"Consumption is not very high and the production gaps cause tension when it comes to quotations, which are difficult to offset."
For further information
Roberto Bortolotti
C/O De Luca e Campitiello
Via Paolo Canali, 1
40127 Bologna
+39 051 2861261