During the second week of December, slight price increases have been recorded in Almeria's markets for products such as tomatoes and peppers. Meanwhile, aubergine and courgette prices have either remained stable or fallen slightly; other products, such as cucumbers, are not reaching profitable prices for their growers, as they remain below production costs.
The weeks before the Christmas holidays are very important for Almeria's producers, as sales volumes usually reach their highest levels. This year, the weather has been taking a negative toll on prices, since there have been no temperature drops and the weather is more alike that of spring than of autumn. With every campaign, the cold is the primary regulator of supply in Almeria, allowing for prices to increase at the markets of origin.
Tomatoes have been recording price increases; in the case of the long life, prices have ranged from seventy to fifty cents; pear tomatoes reach initial prices of fifty five cents and final sales at forty cents and tomatoes on the vine start at seventy seven cents and close at sixty cents per kilo.
Long aubergines start at one Euro and twenty cents and auctions close at ninety cents, while the striped has ranged between one Euro and fifteen cents and eighty five cents per kilo. Thin courgettes stand between one Euro and eighty cents and the thick variety starts at ninety cents and closes the auction at seventy cents.
Italian green peppers are sold for between ninety five and eighty cents, the red starts at fifty seven cents and closes at thirty cents per kilo. The green Lamuyo reaches initial prices of ninety cents and final sales at seventy-four cents, while the red is traded for between ninety five and sixty cents per kilo. Yellow bell peppers remain below seventy cents, with final sales at fifty cents; red bell peppers are sold for eighty to sixty cents and the green start at eighty five cents and close the auction at sixty five cents per kilo.
Meanwhile, green beans have stayed at a similar level to last week's, with slight increases in some cases. The Helda is sold for between two Euro and sixty cents and one Euro and eighty cents, the Perona stands at an average of one Euro and eighty cents; the strike oscillates between three Euro and sixty cents and two Euro and seventy cents and the Emerite stands at average price of two Euro and twenty cents per kilo.
