Fresh fruit prices in Germany rose significantly during July following a downturn in supply volumes for several key products produced both at home and abroad.
According to a report published by ZMP, a 7.6 per cent monthly increase in the average price of fruit on the German market during July contributed to an overall price rise of 1.6 per cent last month compared with the figures for June.
Lower volumes of domestically produce berries and stonefruit, the result of adverse weather conditions during the spring, has reportedly combined with a fall in Mediterranean stonefruit production this year to limit supply and push prices higher.
As a result, German fruit prices were 13 per cent higher last month compared with July 2007, said ZMP.
For the apple sector, meanwhile, last year's poor harvest in eastern Europe has apparently led to increase shipment of Southern Hemisphere fruit to the region, something which ZMP analysts believe will push prices higher in Germany at the start of the season as exporters struggle to sustain supplies until the start of the European campaign.
'Large exports to eastern Europe and small EU imports from the Southern Hemisphere are causing a gap in supply,' the report said.
Vegetable prices, meanwhile, have fell by 4.8 per cent in July compared with June, remaining more or less at the same level as in the previous year. Prices for cucumbers fell, said ZMP, while a fall in tomato volume compared with 2007 meant a slight rise in prices.
A similar crop to last year meant prices remained low, while brassica prices were 'significantly cheaper' than last year mainly as a result of abundant cauliflower and broccoli production.
