The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables in the third quarter declined by seven per cent, whereas the wholesale value increased by 12.6 per cent over the comparative period in 2014, according to the National Statistics Office.

The NSO said the volume of fresh fruit and vegetables sold through official markets amounted to 11.2 million kilograms, yielding €5 million. This represented a drop of seven per cent in weight and a 12.6 per cent growth in wholesale value over the corresponding period last year.

Fresh vegetable supply went down by 8.3 per cent to 10.5 million kilograms over 2014.

Drops of 26.8, 18.4 and 11.8 per cent were registered mainly in the supply of tomatoes, cabbages and vegetable marrows respectively. In contrast, the wholesale value of fresh vegetables increased by 11.3 per cent to €4.4 million.

The supply of fresh fruit advanced by 18.4 per cent, mainly on account of increases of 106.7, 90.7 and 34.8 per cent in the availability of nectarines, strawberries and peaches, respectively. The wholesale value of fresh fruit increased by 21.9 per cent to €0.7 million.

The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables supplied by Maltese farmers decreased by 6.7 per cent over the corresponding period in 2014. Maltese farmers supplied 9.9 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables or 88 per cent of the total supply.

The wholesale value of such produce went up by 14.7 per cent, from €3.8 million to €4.4 million.

Gozitan farmers contributed 1.4 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables, 12 per cent of the total supply. In volume terms, this produce decreased by nine per cent, while the wholesale value went down by 0.2 per cent over 2014.