Supplies of kiwifruit from Europe arewinding down, and prices have remained strong as a result of demandoutstripping supplies. French fruit is expected to be available into May, afterwhich fruit from the Southern Hemisphere will fill in supply gaps.
“Fruit is quite expensive right now becausewe are at the end of the season,” said Celine Mura of Groupe Rouquette.“Each day there's less and less fruit on the market, so we're awaiting thearrival of new fruit.” Italian and Greek supplies are also available, but thoseseasons are in their latter stages as well. Céline Mura noted that demand hasbeen so robust that they've had to be careful to restrict the number of newbuyers they take on so that they have enough for their established customers atleast on some calibers.
French kiwifruit is usually priced higherthan competing Italian fruit, and Céline Mura explained that that's due to thehigher sugar content and better overall quality of French fruit. Consequently,French suppliers have to market their fruit to customers who value premiumquality over price. But once domestic supplies run out in May and they importChilean fruit, Céline Mura said they switch their marketing to highlightcheaper prices than new Zealand ones.
“As importers of Chilean fruit, we have tocompete with fruit from New Zealand, which is more expensive,” explained CélineMura. “So we have to find a customer base that wants to work with cheaperfruit.” The transition to Southern Hemisphere fruit is expected to happensometime between mid-May and mid-June. Though it's too early to tell with muchcertainty, Céline Mura noted that, from what she's heard from her suppliers,volumes from Chile should be greater than those of last year.
For more information:
Céline Mura
Groupe Rouquette
Tel : + 33563651478 or +33685425333
Fax : +33563651480
Email: celine@grouperouquette.fr