The volume and wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables decreased by 0.6 and 6.2 per cent respectively in the third quarter when compared to the same period last year.

The supply of fresh fruit and vegetables amounted to 12.1 million kilograms, a decrease of 0.6 per cent. Similarly, the wholesale value dropped to €4.5 million.

The volume of fresh vegetables increased marginally by 0.2 per cent to 11.5 million kilograms over the comparative period in 2013.

Increases were registered in the supply of cabbages (+13.8 per cent), cauliflowers (+11.2 per cent) and watermelons (+8.1 per cent). There was a shortfall in the supply of lettuce (-11.6 per cent) and sugar melons (-9 per cent). The wholesale value of fresh vegetables decreased by four per cent to €3.9 million.

The supply of fresh fruit dropped by 13 per cent, mainly on account of a decrease in the availability of strawberries (-61.3 per cent), bambinella pears (-35.2 per cent) and grapes (-3.9 per cent). The wholesale of fresh fruit declined by 20 per cent to €500,000.