In the ?rst quarter, the volume of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 2.3 per cent, whereas the wholesale value declined by 7.5 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter last year.

The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables passing through of? cial markets rose to 10.3 million kilogrammes (+2.3 per cent), from 10.1 million kilogrammes in the corresponding quarter last year.  On the other hand, the wholesale value dropped by 7.5 per cent from €5.0 million in the ? rst quarter last year to €4.6 million in 2014.

Fresh vegetables supplied decreased marginally by 0.8 per cent to 9.8 million kilogrammes over the comparative quarter in 2013.  Increases were registered in the supply of Globe artichokes (+24.8 per cent), Vegetable marrows (+11.3 per cent) and Tomatoes (+1.3 per cent).  In contrast, the wholesale value of fresh vegetables declined by 12.5 per cent to €3.8 million.

The supply of fresh fruit increased by 45.1 per cent mainly on account of a rise in the availability of Oranges (+71.8 per cent), Sweet oranges (+65.6 per cent) and Strawberries (+43.7 per cent).  Similarly, the wholesale value of fresh fruit advanced by 25.6 per cent, to €0.8 million.

The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables supplied by Maltese farmers increased by 2.4 per cent over the corresponding quarter in 2013.  Maltese farmers supplied 9.6 million kilogrammes of fresh fruit and vegetables, or 92.8 per cent of the total supply.  The wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables went down by 6.8 per cent from €4.5 million to €4.2 million.

Gozitan farmers contributed 0.7 million kilogrammes of fresh fruit and vegetables, or 7.2 per cent of the total supply.  The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 0.6 per cent, whereas the wholesale value declined by 12.5 per cent over the comparative quarter in 2013.

The quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fruit price declined by 29.69 points (-17.6 per cent) to 139.11 points. In contrast, the fresh fruit volume index increased by 23.81 points (+45.1 per cent) to 76.66 points.

The quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh vegetables price index went down by 13.84 points (-13.0 per cent) to 92.41 points.  On the other hand, the fresh vegetables volume index increased by 0.71 points (+0.8 per cent) to 95.13 points in the ?rst quarter this year.