Volume of fresh fruit, vegetables up by 4.1%

The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables passing through official markets in the fourth quarter last year went up by 4.1 per cent, amounting to 8.9 million kilograms, when compared to the corresponding quarter in 2010. The wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 2.5 per cent to €4.4 million.

The supply of fresh vegetables rose by 4.4 per cent to 8.5 million kilograms over the comparative period. Increases were registered in the supply of Potatoes ( 58.9 per cent), Cabbages ( 11.5 per cent), Tomatoes ( 10.4 per cent) and Vegetable marrows ( 4.1 per cent). Furthermore, the wholesale value of fresh vegetables rose by 3.9 per cent to €4.1 million in the fourth quarter last year.

On the other hand, the supply of fresh fruit decreased by 1.3 per cent, mainly on account of a decline in the availability of Oranges (-16.0 per cent) and Sweet oranges (-13.6 per cent). Similarly, the wholesale value of fresh fruit fell by 13.2 per cent, to €0.3 million.

Regional Statistics

The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables supplied by Maltese farmers amounted to 8.1 million kilograms, up by 4.6 per cent over the corresponding period in 2010. During the quarter under review the wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables rose by 4.9 per cent to €4.0 million. The produce represented 91.4 per cent of the total supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Gozitan farmers produced 0.8 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables, or 8.6 per cent of the total supply. The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables edged down by 0.8 per cent, while the wholesale value dropped by 14.6 per cent over the comparative quarter in 2010.

Quarterly Indices

The quarterly 'All Items' fresh fruit price index for the fourth quarter dipped 11.52 points (-12.7 per cent) to stand at 79.11 points. The fresh fruit volume index went down by 0.83 points (-1.2 per cent) to 65.60 points.

In contrast, the quarterly 'All Items' fresh vegetables price index advanced by 0.23 points ( 0.2 per cent) from 126.52 points in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 126.75 points in the corresponding quarter of 2011. The fresh vegetables volume index rose by 3.5 points ( 4.4 per cent) to 83.64 points.