New Zealand Braeburn, Royal Gala, Jazz, as well as old Elstar and Jonagold varieties formed the basis of the assortment. Chilean Elstar, domestic Red Jonaprince, and various Italian varieties completed the picture. In Frankfurt, Crimson Snow arrived in abundance in 7 kg cartons at EUR 14. South Africa mainly contributed Braeburn and Kanzi to the local market, while Chile still marketed Royal Gala and Braeburn.
© BLE
In Berlin, the French early varieties Arkcharm, Lodi, and Early Gold kicked off the new season, with loose produce selling for EUR 2 to 2.70 per kilogram. Overall, there was relatively little movement in stores. Even though German production stocks were visibly dwindling, customers were still keen to buy domestic varieties such as Jonagold and Red Jonaprince, as these were generally much cheaper than overseas produce.
According to the BLE, interest was generally not particularly strong, with buyers apparently focusing on other types of produce. In terms of prices, there was not much change: apart from the usual fluctuations, prices remained largely unchanged. In general, apple prices are at a comparatively high level this year for various reasons.
Click here for the full market and price report.
Pears
On Wednesday, the first new Italian Carmen pears arrived on many markets in 14-kg boxes, loose and packed in 24s. In Hamburg, prices of up to EUR 2.50 per kilo were quoted for small and medium-sized sizes. In addition to Italian Carmen pears, French Dr. Jules Guyots also kicked off the European campaign in Berlin.
Table grapes
Italian shipments dominated, with Victoria and Black Magic leading the way and numerous other varieties rounding out the selection. Increased arrivals from Apulia expanded the existing supply from southern Italy and Sicily. Egyptian and local Spanish offerings supplemented the market.
Strawberries
The season for the much-loved strawberries is already coming to an end in some regions, but larger quantities, including remontant varieties from domestic production, reached the markets. Locally, there was an oversupply, which led to selling pressure and price slumps.
Cherries
Although domestic supplies remained steady, quantities were already declining slightly in some areas. Cautious delivery estimates and continued strong demand caused prices to rise again.
Plums
Domestic harvest volumes and the range of varieties increased significantly over the week. In addition to the early main varieties Katinka and Cacaks Schöne, Topstar, Hanka, St. Hubertus, and Juna were also available. The Cacaks Schöne from Baden were particularly noteworthy.
Peaches and nectarines
The peak harvest season for Mediterranean products has passed. Spanish deliveries continued to dominate the market ahead of Italian ones, but volumes were no longer as high. Turkish peaches were also available in Berlin, and domestic produce in Frankfurt and Berlin.
Apricots
Turkish sugar apricots Sekerpare now predominated. Spanish, French, and Italian deliveries followed in terms of importance, but the former were increasingly limited. Domestic products, Greece, and Austria supplemented the local market.
Lemons
South African Eureka lemons replaced the previously dominant Spanish Primofiori at the top of the market. Overall, lemon prices climbed to an even higher level this week. Delays in the supply chain and the resulting shortages in many markets led to prices being adjusted to reflect the low availability.
Bananas
Summer is not known to be the season for bananas, so trade was quiet. Limited ship arrivals meant that trade could be tailored to the typically low seasonal demand. Deliveries from ripening facilities were somewhat reduced and adjusted to meet demand.
Cauliflower
Domestic supplies often dominated the market and were only occasionally supplemented by Dutch and Belgian products. Availability increased slightly in some areas. To maintain a certain level of price stability, supply was generally well matched to the demand.
Lettuce
Domestic supplies dominated the market for lettuce, which were supplemented by Belgian products. The ratings for domestic loads showed a downward trend in some markets. Prices stabilized slightly during the week. In Frankfurt, German lettuce remained stable at EUR 4 to 5 per 6-head crate.
Cucumbers
German, Dutch, and Belgian cucumbers were available. Availability and prices fluctuated during the reporting period, in some cases quite significantly. The demand remained very strong and could only be met with difficulty and highly fluctuating prices.
Tomatoes
Dutch and Belgian deliveries dominated the market for all varieties. Domestic products, Italian cherry varieties, Polish round tomatoes and small quantities of Tunisian cherry tomatoes supplemented the market, although the latter were by no means available on all markets.
Sweet peppers
Dutch loads predominated, supplemented by Turkish, domestic and Belgian supplies. There were also a few green Polish and red Spanish offerings. While green block peppers from the Netherlands fell in price to between EUR 9 and EUR 11, the selling price for red and yellow peppers climbed to EUR 15.50 per 5-kg carton.
Source: BLE
