The wholesale market business in the Munich market hall is currently rather quiet due to the holidays. "The predominantly warm weather recently has noticeably boosted demand for watermelons again," says Seckin Yildirim, stand manager at OR-PA GmbH. Compared to previous years, the marketing of stone fruit was predominantly weak this year. "Across all products, most of the stone fruit from Spain was small at the beginning of the season. Only apricots have been of almost consistently satisfactory quality and size. Sales of Turkish sweet apricots, which are expected to be available until the end of the month, have also been relatively weak this year."
Insight into the company's stone fruit range.
The stone fruit season in the Northern Hemisphere is now in its final phase. Larger quantities of Spanish origin will most likely only be available until mid-September, Yildirim expects. "Currently, fruit is only being loaded in the northern Spanish growing regions, while the more southerly regions have already withdrawn from the market. Experience shows that certain products, such as peaches, run out a little earlier, while yellow nectarines are usually available for a little longer."
Seckin Yildirim is stand manager at the Munich wholesale company OR-PA GmbH.
Early start of the Turkish grape season
Table grapes from several countries of origin are also part of the Munich-based company's basic range. Italy forms the basis, with goods from Egypt and Turkey also on offer. Yildirim: "We now mainly trade in Italian Vittoria grapes and are also starting with Italia grapes. There is more than enough produce available, but the sales are lacking. We were also able to offer the first Turkish Sultana grapes in week 33, which is quite early compared to other years. Despite good quality and fruit sizes, demand for this product is rather restrained. We expect a gradual increase in demand from the beginning of September or after the holidays." Sultana grapes are currently selling for 16-17 EUR/kg.
Insight into the grape assortment of OR-PA GmbH.
Figs and melons
OR-PA GmbH has also been offering its first black figs from the Turkish fig stronghold Bursa for a few days now. "Even though prices have fallen slightly, we are still above last year's level. Nevertheless, sales have been satisfactory so far. This may also be due to the fact that Italian figs are weaker this year," says the experienced fruit wholesaler.
While the fig campaign is only just picking up speed, the supply of watermelons is slowly coming to an end. "Italy is already close to the end of the season, which is due to the major hail damage this year. Last year, we were able to offer Italian watermelons until mid-September, but that will definitely not be the case this year. In Spain and Turkey, however, the supply of goods is fine." The company's melon portfolio is rounded off with Galia and Kirkagac melons from Turkey. "The striped Kirkagac melon is grown exclusively in Turkey, but has more of a complementary character for us. The Turkish Galia melon, on the other hand, is very popular, thanks to its fruit weight of up to five kilograms. In comparison, the Spanish equivalent only weighs one to two kilograms, which is of course a significant difference."
Photo credit: OR-PA GmbH
For more information:
Seckin Yildirim
OR-PA GmbH
Wholesale Market Munich
Phone: +49 89 64962580
Email: [email protected]
www.or-pa.com