Italy: High lemon prices slow down the market

If we had to use a word to describe the lemon situation on the wholesale market we would choose 'sta…

If we had to use a word to describe the lemon situation on the wholesale market we would choose 'standstill' - both importers and customers are being very cautious.

This in turn means lower imports (currently all lemons are imported from South Africa, Argentina and Uruguay), less wholesale purchases and a slow demand from final customers.

"Nobody is doing anything because of the high economic risk," explains Andrea Saturnini, wholesaler from Sa.Ga.

Sales are slow and the reason being mainly the prices - only produce from overseas is available and prices have gone up due to the frost that hit Argentina during blossoming.

"In the past few years, Eureka lemons were sold at €1-1.30/kg, whereas now they reach €2/kg, pushing consumers towards other cheaper products such as melons, peaches and nectarines."

Nobody knows how long this situation will last, but it probably will not change until the arrival on the market of lemons from Spain in a month's time.