Medical advice seems to be falling on deaf ears as the sale of fruit and vegetables registered a decline in the third quarter this year over the same period in 2009.

The National Statistics Office reported the volume of fresh fruit and vegetables sold through official markets amounted to 12.2 million kilos, a drop of 7.8 per cent.

The wholesale value, however, grew by 23.9 per cent from €4.7 million to €5.8 million.

Notable declines in the supply of fresh vegetables were registered in potatoes, honey melons and watermelons whereas an increase was seen in the supply of tomatoes and cauliflowers.

The supply of fresh fruit alone slipped by 38 per cent, mainly influenced by a shortage of peaches and grapes, the NSO reported.

The volume of fruit and vegetables supplied by Maltese farmers amounted to 10.7 million kilos, down by 5.7 per cent.