With the arrival of spring, consumers are more and more eager to eat strawberries. While waiting for the local produce to become available, Mercato ortofrutticolo di Cesena is working with fruit from southern Italy, and especially from Basilicata, Sicily and Campania.
"Things are looking good for strawberries. Consumption usually increases around Easter and then the local produce will become available. The situation has been rather calm so far and prices have gone down a bit too much lately - €1.70-2.00/kg is a bit low. I think the warmer weather will make them reach €3," explains Alvaro Gobbi from Gobbi frutta.
"Candonga is the most popular variety. After weeks of scarce volumes, the warm temperatures in southern Italy ripened strawberries, so the market had to manage considerable volumes and prices dropped. But things are already becoming more stable and consumption seems to be in line with the period," adds Maurizio Mantengoli from Nema Fruit.
"It looks like it's going to be a good year for strawberries, especially since the warmer weather will push consumption. Things have been rather weird over the past week as temperatures were high in the south, so production increased, while they were low in the north, so consumption dropped. Now we're getting ready for Easter," stresses Miro Casadei from Biondi Giulio.
According to the data collected by Mercato ortofrutticolo di Cesena, prices in March peaked at €5/kg but stabilised at a lower price at the end of the month.
"Prices were rather high in February and demand was higher than supply, affected by the cold temperatures. Consumers care about quality and the premium produce did well. Of course prices lowered with the arrival of spring," explained Domenic Scarpellini (in the photo).
"The first volumes of produce from Cesena will become available over the next few weeks. They are a testimony to the fresh local products we promote at the Cesena fresh produce market day after day."
