The prospect of stricter sanitary measures was causing a lot of concern, but in the end, fear has given way to relief. The fruit and vegetable sector can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the closures announced last week and planned until May 2nd do not concern food shops.
According to François Moran of Tropibana, which is based at the MIN of Rungis, “there was a lot of concern at the beginning of last week because we did not know where we were headed and then, with the government’s announcements, everything settled down. The stores and markets will not close, so sales have taken off.”
On the right: François Moran, Director of Tropibana
Prices are down
Sales may be up, but prices are down. “Sales have taken off but prices are low,” explains François Moran. “We had to sacrifice prices in order to be able to sell because we had a lot in stock.”
Photo provided by Tropibana
Banana prices are down by 10%, to 0.10 eurocents/kg [0.12 USD cents/kg]. “We usually sell at 1 € to 1.05 € [1.19 to 1.25 USD], but now, we started selling at 0.90/0.95 € [1.07/1.13 USD]. The Martinique banana maintains its price but the American banana is dropping slightly.”
Strawberries are seeing an even more significant decrease, sold at 1.50 €/kg [1.78 USD/kg] instead of the usual 2/2.50 € [2.40/3.00 USD]. Pineapple prices are stable. “We have been selling at prices representative of the market, around 10 to 12 € [11.90 to 14.25 USD].”
Fluid sales
“We’ve had good orders. There is less supply but more sales.” Fluid and increasing sales for Tropibana thanks to the Easter weekend despite a lower supply compensated by the stocks.
For more information:
François Moran
Tropibana
Mobile: 06 20 17 20 13
f.moran@atominternational.com
www.tropibana.fr