Italian orange prices fall as new season gathers pace

Wholesale prices for Italian oranges have fallen as the new season gets underway, while increased autumn production is putting downward pressure on several vegetable categories, according to the latest market update from Borsa Merci Telematica Italiana (BMTI) and Italmercati.

In their La Borsa della Spesa report, published on 13 November, the organisations said Navelina oranges from Sicily and southern Italy were trading at around €1.40-€1.50 per kg, down 11.1 per cent on the previous week and 7.5 per cent year on year.

The clementine season was also moving into full swing, they indicated, with large fruit from key production areas in Calabria priced at €2.30-€2.40 per kg and supplies from other regions at €1.20-€1.80 per kg, depending on size.

Italian apple availability has meanwhile expanded to include all the main varieties following successful harvests in both lowland and mountain production areas, the organisations reported.

Prices remained stable, with lowland Royal Gala and Golden apples at around €1.00 per kg and mountain-grown Royal Gala at €1.30-€1.50 per kg. Newly available Renetta del Canada was quoted at €1.80-€2.00 per kg.

Persimmon prices fell 11 per cent week on week to €1.50-€2.00 per kg, supported by good production in Emilia-Romagna and particularly Campania.

Chestnut prices eased by 0.6 per cent, although BMTI and Italmercati said quotations remained slightly higher than last year because available volumes were not abundant. Demand is expected to increase as temperatures fall.

When it came to vegetables, fennel prices dropped 7.8 per cent in a week as winter production began in Campania and Puglia, falling from €2.20-€2.30 per kg in October to €0.90-€1.20 per kg, and as low as €0.80 per kg in Rome.

Black kale prices declined 5.9 per cent to €1.30-€1.80 per kg as good availability offset strong demand, while lettuce returned to what BMTI described as regular price levels of €1.00-€1.50 per kg.