Rise in sale, value of fruit and vegetables

The amount of fresh fruit and vegetables sold in local markets reached 8.8 million kilogrammes in the last quarter of 2008, increasing by 5.3 per cent when compared to the same period in 2007.

The wholesale value of fresh produce also increased by the same percentage, from €4.44 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 to €4.67 million in 2008, the National Statistics Office found.

While the wholesale value of total fruit and vegetables generated by Maltese farmers increased by 6.8 per cent - from €3.8 million in 2007 to €4.1 million last year - Gozitan farmers experienced a four per cent decline in wholesale value from €603,250 in 2007 to €579,000 last year.

While Maltese farmers, who generate 90.5 per cent of the total fresh fruit and vegetable supply, experienced a six per cent increase in vegetables there was a 1.3 per cent drop in fruit supply.

Gozitan farmers experienced a reverse trend with a slight, 0.2 per cent, dip in vegetables and a 3.6 per cent increase in fruit supply.

The NSO quarterly report was based on information collected from the five official markets: Pitkali Malta and Gozo, Co-op Malta and Gozo and the Ta' Qali Producers Group, where all farmers deposit their produce for sale to licensed hawkers through private middlemen.

Data collected showed that, during the period under review, the overall supply of fresh vegetables went up by 5.5 per cent to 8.4 million kilograms, mainly on account of an increase in the supply of potatoes (that increased by 78.5 per cent), cabbages (27 per cent), vegetable marrows (27.1 per cent) and dry onions (29.2 per cent).

On the other hand, the supply of tomatoes and cauliflowers declined by 12.9 and 9.1 per cent respectively. The wholesale value of fresh vegetables supplied during this period rose by 5.3 per cent to €4.35 million.

With regards to fruit, the supply and wholesale value rose by 0.9 and 6.3 per cent respectively over the fourth quarter in 2007, with the wholesale value increasing from €0.31 million to €0.33 million, mainly on account of an increase in the value of strawberries, which increased by 224 per cent.

In a statement, the Rural Affairs' Ministry said that the NSO's figures showed that consumers were benefitting from local produce and this was of great encouragement to the agricultural sector.