Although the volume of fresh fruit and vegetables sold through official markets in the third quarter declined by 6.8 per cent, the wholesale value increased by 6.3 per cent.

The National Statistics Office said that the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables in the third quarter amounted to 12.7 million kilograms, 6.8 per cent less than in the same period in 2011. Conversely, the wholesale value increased by 6.3 per cent, amounting to €4.6 million.

The volume of fresh vegetables fell by 5.2 per cent to 11.8 million kilogrammes over the comparative quarter last year.

Maltese farmers supplied 10.9 million kilogrammes of fresh fruit and vegetables, yielding €4 million. Their produce accounted for 85.8 per cent of the total supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for the quarter under review.

Gozitan farmers supplied the remaining 14.2 per cent of the total supply, amounting to 1.8 million kilogrammes. The wholesale value advanced by 19.6 per cent to €0.6 million.