A leading fresh produce association in the southern Spanish province of Almeria has urged fruit and vegetable marketers to abstain from selling products at prices that fail to cover production costs, following a “catastrophic” fall in prices for courgettes, Daniela tomatoes, peppers and aubergines.
According to COAG Almeria, prices at source have dropped dramatically over the past two weeks as a result of unusually warm weather in February leading to a surge in production.
A previously reported by Fruitnet, courgettes have been the most affected product, with the association estimating that prices have slumped by 51.6 per cent over the past two weeks.
Also significantly affected has been Daniela tomatoes, with prices decreasing by 37 per cent, followed by aubergines (34 per cent) and peppers (32.5 per cent).
In the cases of courgettes and the tomato variety, COAG Almeria said that in many instances the products were selling for under €0.15 per kilo; a price that does not come close to covering the cost of production.
The organisation is now calling on marketers in the Andalusian province “not to sell products that are practically free”, arguing that doing so would saturate the market and endanger the future of many growers in Almeria.
To avoid such an outcome, COAG Almeria urged marketers to “abstain” from selling “when prices are so low”.
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