In the fourth quarter of 2008, both the volume and the wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 5.3 per cent when compared to the corresponding period of 2007.

The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables passing through the official markets in the fourth quarter of 2008 advanced by 5.3 per cent to 8.8 million kilograms over the comparative period in 2007. Similarly, the wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables registered an increase of 5.3 per cent, from €4.44 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 to €4.67 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

During the period under review, the supply of fresh vegetables went up by 5.5 per cent to 8.4 million kilograms, mainly on account of an increase in the supply of Potatoes (+78.5 per cent), Cabbages (+27.0 per cent), Vegetable Marrows (+27.1 per cent) and Dry Onions (+29.2 per cent). On the other hand, the supply of Tomatoes and Cauliflowers declined by 12.9 and 9.1 per cent respectively. The wholesale value of fresh vegetables supplied during this period rose by 5.3 per cent to €4.35 million.

The supply and wholesale value of fresh fruit rose by 0.9 and 6.3 per cent respectively over the fourth quarter in 2007, with the wholesale value increasing from €0.31 million to €0.33 million, mainly on account of an increase in the wholesale value of strawberries, which advanced by 224.0 per cent.

Regional Statistics

The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables supplied by Maltese farmers increased by 5.8 per cent over the corresponding period in 2007, to 8.0 million kilograms. This volume represented 90.5 per cent of the total supply. The wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables rose by 6.8 per cent, from €3.83 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, to €4.09 million in the fourth quarter last year. Gozitan farmers produced a total of 0.8 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables, or 9.5 per cent of the total supply. The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables increased marginally by 0.8 per cent, whereas the wholesale value declined by 4.0 per cent over the comparative period in 2007.

Quarterly Indices

The Quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh fruit price index for the fourth quarter decreased by 8.53 points (-6.2 per cent), from 138.19 points in the same quarter of 2007. On the other hand, the fresh fruit volume index edged up by 0.61 points or 0.9 per cent, to 68.68 points.

The Quarterly ‘All Items’ fresh vegetables price index declined by 3.00 points (-2.2 per cent) from 137.35 points in the fourth quarter in 2007, while the fresh vegetables volume index increased by 4.36 points (+5.6 per cent) to 82.84 points in the fourth quarter last year.

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