After a difficult week, the worst seems to be finally over for aubergine wholesale trade. "Last week, the season was ending in Sicily and produce from Veneto and Campania became available at the same time," explained wholesaler Nino Leonardi.
Things changed in the past few days, as "the Sicilian produce finished and the processing industry absorbed part of the supply. The market recovered a little, with prices between 50 and 60 cents per kg."
In Sicily though there is still a gap to be filled by fresh productions and prices dropped some more, so much so that on Monday June 22nd, 2015 it took 10 kg of aubergines to buy a cup of coffee!
In its price bulletin (click here), the Vittoria wholesale market reports that aubergines are sold at 10 cents a kg, 20 cents for purple ones. A lot of produce goes unsold - aubergines as well as peppers, cucumbers, green tomatoes and dark courgettes.
"The aubergine campaign is practically over in Vittoria. The remaining produce is shipped to the processing industry. Tuesday (June 23rd, 2015), we sold produce at €0.10."
"The market is stuck. Not because of prices or quality and not even due to foreign competition. The problem is consumption, no one is buying anything."
Things are expected to improve in the next few days, at least in the North. Wholesaler Nino Leonardi explains that "next week prices should reach 70-80 cents per kg, which would be ideal and more in line with the period."
Author: Andrea Minghelli
Copyright: www.freshplaza.it