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Supply of fruit and vegetables down by 12.2%
By MaltaMedia News
May 7, 2008 - 11:59:02 AM
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In the first quarter of 2008, the volume of fresh fruit and vegetables declined by 12.2%, while the wholesale value rose by 23.5%.
The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables passing through the official markets in the first quarter of 2008 amounted to 10.0 million kilograms implying a drop of 12.2% over the same period last year. This decline in the quantity was contrasted by an increase of 23.5 % in the wholesale value, which amounted to €5.62 million.
During this period, the supply of fresh vegetables fell by 14.0%, from 11.0 million kilograms in 2007 to 9.5 million kilograms in 2008. Noticable declines were recorded in the supply of Potatoes (-33.5%), Vegetable Marrows (-24.0%), Cabbages (24.4%) and Cauliflowers (-11.0%).
In contrast, the wholesale value of fresh vegetables rose by 24.4% to €5.13 million in 2008, as a result of a general increase in prices that resulted from the drop in the supply of fresh vegetables on the market.
Over the comparative period in 2007, the supply and wholesale value of fresh fruit registered gains of 44.6% and 15.1% respectively. Citrus fruit, namely Oranges (+128.5%) and Sweet Oranges (+74.0%), underpinned mainly for the increase in fresh fruit availability. The increase in the wholesale value is attributed to the increase in the supply of fresh fruit, as wholesale prices, in general over the comparative period, declined.
The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables supplied by Maltese farmers decreased by 13.7% over the corresponding period in 2007. Maltese farmers supplied a total of 8.94 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables, or 89.4 % of the total supply.
The decline in the supply of Potatoes (-33.2 %) was the main factor behind the decrease. On the other hand, the wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables rose by 23.8% , from €3.94 million in 2007 to €4.88 million in the same period this year.
Gozitan farmers contributed a total of 1.1 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables, or 10.6 per cent of the total supply. The volume and wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 3.2% and 21.4% respectively over the comparative period last year.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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May 8, 2008 - 7:37:45 PM CET
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