The fruit and vegetable import market is currently looking good. Grapes have reached fabulous prices of 12 Euro for the loose product and between 13.50 and 14 Euro for the packaged fruit from South Africa. The impact of drought has reduced the production volumes and, with the current value of the Rand, there is money to earn for the importers. The last batches of South African grapes will arrive around mid-April, but India has also kicked off with great prices of around 14 Euro. India will be the main player in the grape market in April and then Egypt will start in May.
The citrus season is going pretty well. The price level of oranges is not so high, but sales are quite good. Mandarin sales are fair and limes are also doing well, while the grapefruit market has been described as slow by the importers. For some time, the price of avocados has remained at a nice level, currently standing at around 12/13 Euro. They are imported from various origins, but none of them are supplying large volumes. Mango prices, of around 8 Euro, are also considered fine.
The market for melons is also good; yellow melons are the most appreciated, with a price of between 11 and 13 Euro, which at times has been even a little higher. Charentais melon sales have been reasonable. Good Galia melons have stood at a decent price of around 7.50 Euro. Watermelons have not performed as well and have been sold at prices of between 60 and 65 cents, with 20 cents more for the seedless, but the weakest link in the melon sector is currently the Cantaloupe, with supply that clearly exceeds demand.
In the greenhouse vegetable segment, peppers are experiencing a major upswing. Although the Israeli supply has been much smaller, the country will still aim to ship more to Europe, with prices of about 15 Euro for red peppers and 9/10 Euro for the yellow. With an early Easter ahead, prices in the pepper market this month are expected to remain sky high. The first coloured Dutch peppers are slowly reaching the market and prices of 20 Euro for the red and 18 Euro for the yellow are being paid.
Imported tomatoes are also selling really well, at a price of around 7 Euro for the tomatoes of Moroccan origin. Specialty tomatoes are also expensive, but for Moroccan suppliers, these higher prices are badly needed.
