At the Austrian wholesalers, stone fruits of all kinds currently dominate events. However, available quantities from neighboring Italy are very limited, which is why specialized trading companies are partly switching to Spanish products in order to serve their customers. For some varieties, prices are twice as high as last year around this time, explains Peter Haas, sales manager of the Haas wholesale company based in Vienna's wholesale market.
"We currently have 30 percent less sales compared to last year's season, simply because the quantities are not there," explains Mr. Haas, who specializes primarily in Italian fruits and vegetables. "This time last year we had twice the amount of peaches. As a result, prices are sometimes twice as high compared to last year's price levels.”
Frost during blooming
The difficult weather conditions in the spring - with flowering frost and then weeks of showers and hail - still resonates. And not only for the Italian products: “To cover demand, we are currently buying drupes from Spain. There are isolated quality problems as well, although the quality there is generally better than that of the Italian fruits. But I have to say that in Italy, mainly the early varieties are affected: later crops will only start arriving in July and August. We have to wait and see what they’ll look like,” says Mr Haas.
The difficult weather conditions in the spring - with flowering frost and then weeks of showers and hail - still resonates. And not only for the Italian products: “To cover demand, we are currently buying drupes from Spain. There are isolated quality problems as well, although the quality there is generally better than that of the Italian fruits. But I have to say that in Italy, mainly the early varieties are affected: later crops will only start arriving in July and August. We have to wait and see what they’ll look like,” says Mr Haas.
In addition to peaches, nectarines and Paraguayos from southern Europe, the wholesaler usually purchases apricots from neighboring Hungary as well, at this time of year. However, the local producers have problems with their harvest. “They are seeing almost a total failure in this year's season. There are sporadic batches arriving to Austrian wholesalers, but those are only marginal.” According to Mr. Haas, domestic apricots are not an alternative, as they are primarily marketed locally and they are in a much higher price segment than foreign fruit. “Because of that, they are rather uninteresting for us wholesalers.”
Haas Obst und Gemüse GmbH has been based in Vienna's wholesale market for many years and has a broad product portfolio. An essential part of the offer comes directly from (South) Italian production or through the Padua wholesale market. Furthermore, regional as well as central European products (eg from Poland and Hungary) are included in its product range. The wholesaler supplies an eclectic clientele of specialty retailers and retail outlets across the region.
For more information:
Haas Obst, Gemüse und Südfrüchte GmbH
Großmarkt Inzersdorf
1230 Wien
Fon: +43 1 6175732