At the moment, late varieties from Apulia and Calabria are on sale in Bologna. Prices hover between 70 and 80 Euro cents per kg for the lower qualities and reach €1-1.10 for the rounder varieties, in line with previous seasons.
The reason for such a difference in price between the varieties (around 30%) is that there is less round fennel available due to the warm weather of the last few days, which accelerated ripening making the produce develop a more oblong shape.
The end of the season reflects the trend of the entire campaign, characterised by constant prices. Prices did shoot up towards the end of week 16: "we thought it was going to last, but didn't. The increase was caused by a gap in supply between the end of the winter fennel campaign and the arrival of the late varieties, which were a few days late."
Author: Andrea Minghelli
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