Orange sales are still slow in wholesale markets, meaning prices are rather low. In Bologna, they hover between 50 eurocents/kg to €1/kg depending on grade.
"Our supplier told us prices at origin are as much as double what they were last year, so prices should be higher than they are, but demand is slow," reports a trader.
Oranges. (Archive photo)
This situation is also due to the fact that there are imported oranges (from Spain) sold at 20 eurocents/kg less than the Italian produce. The bigger oranges are sold at 70/80 eurocents/kg.
The impression is that there are lower volumes of Navel available at the moment (from Calabria and Sicily), but it appears the same can be said for other varieties. "A few Tarocco oranges became available this week, but the season will only start in January. People are talking about 30% less oranges than last year, which was already a year characterised by a low production."