October 2018 was pretty stable. The temperature was good and it did not rain much thus facilitating the harvesting and the usual fruit and vegetable supplying for the Mercato Ortofrutticolo di Lusia (Lusia’s fruit and vegetables market). The produce proved to be good and to have those characteristics demanded by the buyers.
During October, the price oscillated because of a not-always-interested demand. At the beginning of the month, there was quite a demand which slightly increased the prices. Then, halfway through October, the exchanges slowed down thus causing the drop in the price. Towards the end of the month, the increased volumes did not match the poor demand. Therefore, there was a drop in sales and a lot of goods left unsold.
To recap the marketing trend of the month: fewer garlic quantities allowed a good increase in prices. Additionally, the marketed produce was of good quality.
Beetroot, the Milan’s white, the coastal and the Catalan beets started splendidly with increasing prices. However, the prices dropped due to a rather high offer, in the second half of the month.
The first half of October was good for the leaf carrot, also. A constant increase in the price counterbalanced the fewer volumes. However, the market situation has completely changed over the last ten days: a suddenly increased availability of produce caused a significant drop in the price, thus leaving unsold a lot of produce.
Recently, rainbow carrots have been available. They have been rather successful, both in terms of demand and revenue. The prices were constantly 30-40 cents/kg higher than the ones of traditional carrots.
The cauliflower harvesting is going well, even though the volumes seem decreased compared to last year’s October. The demand was quite active, thus facilitating a good price. Also, the romano and the green varieties were demanded thus resulting in an increase in the price.
The month was good for the cabbage sector, even though fewer volumes were supplied. Prices were good and constant enough.
The fall fennel campaign did not start well. There was no demand at all and the prices were extremely low, even though the produce had good marketing characteristics.
The first half of the month was excellent for the lettuces, both in terms of the available produce and the prices. Also, the volumes were the same as last year. In the second half of the month, the market slowed down facilitating a decrease in prices. The Gentile lettuce suffered the most from this situation. Its prices dropped by more than 17% compared to October 2017.
The harvesting of the American potatoes is going very well, too. However, there was a widespread uncertainty on how to place such a produce - considering that the demand was extremely low, thus inevitably affecting the prices.
The prices of leaks were acceptable thanks to a particularly active demand. The quality of the produce met the expectations.
Slow exchanges and decreasing prices within the radish sector. During October, the quality of the produce was not satisfying at all. Only towards the end of the month, the quality considerably increased thanks to the new harvest. As a consequence, the prices remained stable at good levels.
A calm situation for the white celery: the prices did not meet the expectations of the farmers. Different story for the green celery, the demand of which is constantly increasing.
The prices of the spinach were the same as in October 2017 thanks to a discrete demand and limited supplies.
Prices are increasing for every pumpkin variety. The offer for the Violin and the ornamental varieties decreased, while the Delica variety’s demand slightly increased.
October was particularly tough for the fruit sector because of constant marketing difficulties and a weak demand. Apples experienced a negative trend: Lower quantities and lower prices compared to 2017.
The trend for the pears was slightly better. Prices increased yet the supplied volumes decreased. The marketing of the kiwis started in October. There were fewer quantities, but the quality and the size were satisfying. The prices were low, thus affecting the producers’ revenue.