Quantity of fruit, vegetables drops but value rises

The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables passing through the official markets in the first quarter of this year amounted to 10 million kilos, a drop of 12.2 per cent over the same period last year, the National Statistics Office said.

The decline was contrasted by an increase of 23.5 per cent in the wholesale value, which amounted to €5.62 million, the NSO added.

During this period, the supply of fresh vegetables fell by 14 per cent, from 11 million kilos last year to 9.5 million kilos this year.

Over the comparative period last year, the supply and wholesale value of fresh fruit registered gains of 44.6 per cent and 15.1 per cent respectively.