The ethnic-exotic segment changes every day, every hour or even every moment. Giorgio Donnarumma, sales manager at Nuovafrutta, explains that "this is a very peculiar window, as all products are going through a period of uncertainty. In addition, there is the drought in the Panama Canal and the Red Sea crisis. Many are afraid of loading the produce, in case the market should stall again."
Fuerte avocados from Peru
January and February were rather heavy. "Prices were high and consumption was low. Many programs with the big retail chain are also being reduced, meaning there is more produce on the wholesale markets and it is difficult to shift it. It's like soil that is no longer able to drain: rain is indeed very precious but, if the soil saturates, water turns into a problem. The same is currently happening on the market."
The only positive note concerns plantains. "After 6-8 negative months, sales prices skyrocketed to between €20-23 and €50. The main reasons are the lack of produce and the weather."
Avocados
"There are no peaks, either positive or negative. We could say the market is rather regular for this category. There is not a lot of produce available, meaning prices are remaining rather high. Margins however are lower due to the dropping consumption. Multiple origins are available at the moment. The first Hass avocados from Peru are becoming available, through we will have to see about quality, plus there are Fuerte and Zutano greenskin from Peru. The season of Pinkerton from Israel and avocados from Morocco and Spain is coming to an end."
Avocado from Israel
Ginger
The ginger situation is rather complicated. "There are problems when it comes to loading the produce and making it reach its destination, plus quality is not exceptional and consumption is dropping. In February, at the beginning of the Chinese ginger season, the produce was humid and the 20-25 days of sea transport affected organoleptic quality. Prices dropped, one month later than I expected. Quotations are currently €1.80-2.20/kg for Chinese ginger. Volumes are not lacking and the Chinese are pushing the produce."
Chinese ginger
The Thai campaign has also started, with sales prices hovering around €3/kg. Brazilian ginger transported by air is almost non-existent on the market. The sales manager expects prices to level downwards over the next few weeks.
Thai ginger
Limes
Prices increased considerably in February: €10 to €12 for 4.5 kg crates from Brazil. Then quotations gradually dropped. "We reached €6/crate during week 10. Prices should be higher, in theory, as supply is not high: this sales trend is due to the slowness of the entire ethnic-exotic segment. On the Italian market, the continuous rain has not been helping sales. I hope things will improve over the next few weeks for this product too."
Brazilian limes
Papayas
"The market was flooded with the Formosa variety from Brazil last week, though quality is low. Prices are dropping due to the low consumption, however it is still difficult to make a sale."
Formosa papayas from Brazil
Mangoes
"Over the past few weeks, the produce shipped from Brazil by sea reached excessive prices of between €12 to €15. We have now reached €8.50/packet for the Palmer and Tommy Atkins varieties, which is rather high. Consumption is stalling."
Palmer mangoes from Brazil
Photos supplied by Giorgio Donnarumma
For further information:
Nuovafrutta
Via Cesare Lombroso 54
20137 Milano - Italy
[email protected]