Domestic and Dutch deliveries dominated the market, closely followed by Italian, Belgian, and Spanish offers. Expensive French products played merely a supplementary role. Availability was restricted, in some cases significantly so. According to the BLE, a gap in supply has emerged between the winter cauliflower, which was harvested early due to the mild and moist climate, and the summer planting batches. As a result, entry prices saw a significant increase: Customers had to dig deeper into their pockets right at the start of the week, and prices continued to climb even after the holiday.
Some distributors withdrew from the market because they were unwilling to meet the high asking prices. And with the high prices, a noticeable reluctance to buy was undeniable. Even from Thursday onwards, prices continued to rise, reaching up to €30 per 6-pack crate. The quality of domestic produce was not consistently convincing: Heads were too small, coloring too weak, and firmness of the heads was lacking. In these cases, the products were mainly of interest to the gastronomy sector.
Apples
German batches continued to dominate the scene, but their significance, similar to that of Italian and French products, had slightly decreased. Shipments from the Netherlands, Poland, and Belgium completed the European offer. Overseas imports had expanded.
Pears
South African imports shaped the scene: Foremost were Abate Fetel, followed by Packham's Triumph. Forelle and Cape Rose/Cheeky came next, with Rosemarie and Williams Christ rounding off the South African deliveries. Chile and Argentina primarily contributed with Abate Fetel to the marketing.
Grapes
South African shipments clearly prevailed, though their presence had been limited according to the season. Inflows from Chile and India supplemented the business, while Peruvian offers had almost completely withdrawn from the market.
Strawberries
Dutch, German, and Greek batches formed the basis of the offer. Deliveries from Spain, Belgium, and Italy complemented the scene. Availability significantly increased. Accordingly, prices often tended downwards. On the other hand, the pleasant weather and the holiday intensified interest.
Lemons
A calm sale characterized the week. Spanish deliveries of Primofiori and higher-quality Verna continued to lead. Turkish Lama and Enterdonato supplemented the scene. Prices remained mostly stable.
Bananas
Overall, supply and demand were sufficiently balanced. Therefore, traders rarely had to adjust their prices. The Hamburg Marathon improved accommodation options in the Hanseatic city.
Lettuce
The Spanish iceberg lettuce season was entering the home stretch: Availability visibly tightened, which directly affected prices. For mixed salads, domestic produce was relatively unrivaled, only in Berlin and Munich were Italian batches involved with larger quantities.
Cucumbers
The assortment of cucumbers consisted of Dutch, Belgian, and domestic offers. Although availability had expanded, it was not always sufficient to fully satisfy interest. In these cases, prices climbed.
Tomatoes
Dutch and Belgian fruits predominated, with Spanish and Italian following in significance. Affordable Moroccan and expensive domestic offers rounded off the assortment. Due to the increased temperatures, accommodation options had also slightly improved.
Bell peppers
Dutch deliveries dominated and gained even more significance. Turkish imports followed before Belgian ones. The Spanish season is nearing its end, as seen in the decreasing quality and reduced shipments. Few domestic batches were relatively expensive yet still sought after by customers.
Asparagus
The significance of predominant domestic batches had increased once again. Imports played at most a minor role. Although more quantities were available compared to the previous week, demand could not always be met, as it had also noticeably increased.
Source: BLE