To sum up: low volumes due to the drought, increased production costs and low sales prices that often did not even cover production costs.
After yet another negative month, producers are considering what to do in the future: whether to reduce cultivated areas to contain costs or to abandon the crop altogether.
Considering the single products, quantities ofgreen garlic were good but quotations were not satisfactory due to overproduction despite the fact that quality was excellent.
Prices remained below those of last year also for red beet. Evidently,the produce was not particularly appealing.
Demand was good for swiss chard and this, combined with the lower yield, led to an increase in prices.
Carrot quotations dropped as well despite the lower quantities available and the fact that flavour, colour and grades are excellent. This fact is alarming many local producers.
The price of cauliflowers has actually increased in thesecond half of the month, favoured by the fact that volumes were 40% lower than last year. This was caused by the heat wave, which turned much of the produce yellow and therefore made it unsaleable.
May was rather negative for cabbage, but quotations of the two most popular varieties (round and cuor di bue) increased in June. The quotations of purple, Chinese and Savoy cabbage remain low.
Boby green beans
The commercialisation of boby and Marconi greenbeans and of beans has also started. Demand was slow from the start, thus driving quotations down. It’s really depressing seeing such low prices for niche products that require a lot of work. Of course, in the future, we will have to make do with produce harvested mechanically, therefore not selected, and of a medium-low quality.
As for fennel, May ended with a drop in quotations that continued throughout June. Demand was slow and did not absorb what was available even when the volumes decreased.
Butterhead lettuce
Lettuce keeps on suffering. All varieties had a good quality, but demand was not interested thus leading to a drop in prices. For many days, both the butterhead and gentile lettuce (the most popular) were sold at €0.30/kg, i.e. below production costs. Producers were forced to destroy the produce rather than harvest it. Prices only picked up towards the end of the month.
Potatoes are currently being harvested, but even those selected are rewarded with low quotations. Oblong ones are sold at €0.24/kg on average while round ones at €0.23/kg on average. Only firm red-skinned and yellow-fleshed potatoes are doing a little better with prices hovering between €0.40 and €0.45/kg. Supplies are higher than 2016 due to the heat, so producers started harvesting a few weeks early even though the produce was not fully ripe.
Quantities of leek increased gradually leading to lower prices despite the fact that quality was good.
The situation of parsley was similar and even curly parsley was sold at a much lower price than last year.
Thankfully, radicchio prices have been on the up due to the limited quantities and lively demand. Despite the heat, quality is still good.
Quotations were stable for both white and green celery as supplies were in line with demand. Appearance and quality were good.
Demand always remained low for spinach provoking a drop in volumes processed and prices. As spinach need to be cooked, the heat does not favour sales.
The excellent quality of courgettes was not rewarded by the prices, as they were 20% lower than last year.
Fruit is doing slightly better as demand contributed to driving prices up even though there was a lot of produce available.
The exchanges and quotations of watermelons and melons were both rather interesting, also thanks to a livelier demand due to the heat. Quality was good, an element which also drove up demand.
The quantity of apples put on the market increased in June and demand for cold-stored produce was not so bad. The fruit was on average two-three eurocents/kg cheaper than last year.
The peach and nectarine campaign started slowly with slow demand and low quotations. Quality wasn’t always great as grades were often small. Demand livened up only towards the end of the month, thanks to a better quality (grade, colour and flavour) and consistently high temperatures.
