"There are some grey areas in the process involved in the production and distribution of agricultural products. While growers receive low prices, consumers have to pay for expensive products, for the benefit of middlemen. Is this the free market? This is market-jungle where the law of the strong prevails," stated Mr Vangelis Apostolou, Greek Minister of Agricultural Development and Food.
The "gap" in the prices of agricultural products from field to fork has already been an issue for years. On 22 and 23 February, YX carried out a survey amongst producers in different regions about the prices they receive for their products, which were compared with the corresponding wholesale prices, published by OKAA, and those which consumers had to pay 1 to 2 days later at four of the largest supermarket chains in Attica. These gaps between origin and retail were deemed impressive, at the least.
As an example, tomatoes sold at auction in Crete reached a value of 40 cents per kilo, while later they were sold in supermarkets for up to 1.70 Euro per kilo, i.e. 325% more.
