Malta: Fresh fruit & vegetable volume down in last quarter of 2010

In the last quarter of 2010, the volume of fresh fruit and vegetables declined by 7.6 per cent, whereas the wholesale value increased by 12.5 per cent, when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2009. The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables passing through the official markets in the fourth quarter last year dropped by 7.6 per cent to 8.6 million kilograms over the corresponding period in 2009. On the other hand, the wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables advanced by 12.5 per cent to ?4.3 million. The supply of fresh vegetables contracted by 7.4 per cent to 8.1 million kilograms over the comparative period. Declines were registered in the supply of Vegetable Marrows (-29.1 per cent), Potatoes (-20.1 per cent) and Cauliflowers (-3.1 per cent). On the other hand, the supply of Dry Onions and Cabbages increased by 8.9 and 5.8 per cent respectively. In contrast, the wholesale value of fresh vegetables rose by 14.8 per cent to ?4.0 million in the fourth quarter last year.
The supply of fresh fruit fell by 10.9 per cent, mainly due to a shortage in the supply of Lemons (-16.5 per cent) and Pomegranates (-19.2 per cent). Likewise, the wholesale value of fresh fruit decreased by 7.7 per cent, to ?0.4 million. The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables supplied by Maltese farmers amounted to 7.8 million kilograms, a decrease of 7.4 per cent over the corresponding period in 2009. During the quarter under review, the wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables rose by 14.2 per cent, from 3.3 million to 3.8 million. Gozitan farmers produced a total of 0.8 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables or 9.0 per cent of the total supply. The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables declined by 9.7 per cent, whereas the wholesale value rose by 2.0 per cent over the comparative quarter in 2009.
The quarterly 'All Items' fresh fruit price index for the fourth quarter rose by 2.37 points (+2.7 per cent), from 88.26 points in 2009. The fresh fruit volume index dropped by 8.17 points, or 11.0 per cent, to 66.43 points. The quarterly 'All Items' fresh vegetables price index advanced by 24.16 points (+23.6 per cent) from 102.36 points in the fourth quarter of 2009 to 126.52 points in the corresponding quarter of 2010. On the other hand, the fresh vegetables volume index declined by 6.44 points (-7.4 per cent) to 80.14 points in the fourth quarter last year.