The global economic crisis continues to have a major impact on the European fresh fruit and vegetable market, with lower consumer spending on fresh produce combining with large volumes of certain key products to create an imbalance of supply and demand.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri confirmed it had noted 'an abundance of fruit' on the market at very low prices, while European apple suppliers have told Fruitnet.com they are expecting one of the worst starts to a season in recent memory, with lower demand from Russia exacerbating the situation.
At the beginning of this week, Dutch berry producers reportedly stopped harvesting because of low market prices, which were reported to be as low as €0.20 per kg.
In Germany, wholesale fruit prices are said to be around 14 per cent lower than at the same time last year, the biggest decrease since 1968.
Turnover at Belgian fruit auction houses is down by 25-30 per cent on the figure for 2008, while fruit prices in France have fallen by nearly 20 per cent compared with last year.
As a result, grower organisations in a number of countries have requested that imports be blocked and some large retailers are urging consumers to buy locally grown produce.
