Far from showing signs of improving, the situation for the sector, hampered by low prices, continues to get worse. Between last week and this Wednesday, 18 November, all products have seen their prices drop, with Almeria cucumbers and courgettes being the most affected, as their prices have halved in just seven days.
According to the information provided by Alhóndiga La Union for the period between 11 and 18 November, Almeria cucumbers have gone from costing an average of 0.48 Euro per kilo to being sold for just 0.20 Euro this week. Short cucumbers are in a similar situation, dropping from 0.53 Euro to an average of 0.24 Euro per kilo. Only the French variety seems to have saved the week a little and, although cheaper, it has been sold for about 0.27 Euro per kilo, compared with 0.31 Euro a week earlier.
Meanwhile, courgettes are still in a dire situation. While this vegetable reached prices of close to 2 Euro in September and even early October, the truth is that at the moment it is about four times cheaper. And, in just one week, the average price of thin courgettes has dropped from 0.95 Euro to 0.58 Euro per kilo, while the thick has fallen from over 1 Euro to just 0.52 Euro per kilo.
The situation of long aubergines, sold for just 0.30 Euro, or of green beans, with prices of 2.30 Euro for the strike or around 2.10 Euro for the Helda, are not particularly good either, and the same goes with tomatoes and peppers. In the former's case, prices range from the 0.30 Euro of the on the vine and the Daniela to the 0.25 Euro of the Pear.
Pepper prices also continue to depreciate. The Italian are sold for between the 0.42 Euro of the red and the 0.55 Euro, on average, of the green, while the green Lamuyo stands at 0.62 Euro and the red at about 0.80 Euro. Lastly, bell pepper prices range between 0.40 Euro for the yellow and 0.65 Euro for the green. The red are sold for about 0.55 Euro per kilo.
Causes
Overproduction largely remains the main cause for these low prices, although in the case of tomatoes other factors are also at play, such as the production from countries like Belgium or the Netherlands, whose seasons are coming to an end, and which are thereby distributing low quality produce at very low prices. According to data collected by the Council of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of Andalusia, this is taking a toll on the price of Almeria's production. Furthermore, Morocco is also playing an increasingly prominent role in the EU markets.
Source: fhalmeria.com
