Lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini and eggplants: these are just a few of the products that reached high prices in early September due to the lack of quantities caused by the summer drought and high temperatures. Prices are now more stable, but they remain interesting.
"Light-colored zucchini from Bologna reached €2-3/kg in the past few days. It is an extreme peak for a high-quality product that is very much in demand. Now they sell at €1-1.50/kg depending on grade. As operators know only too well, the larger the grade the lower the price, when it comes to these types of vegetables," reports Roberto Bortolotti, operator at Caab.
Classic dark zucchini reached €1.70/kg, while now they hover between €1-1.20/kg against an average of 80 eurocents during previous years. "The summer drought and high temperatures lowered availability, leading to higher prices."
The same applies to cucumbers. Produce from new crops was bought at €1.30-1.40/kg, while lower-quality produce from spring transplants achieved an average of 80-90 eurocents.
"As for eggplants, the produce from protected crops in Bologna or Verona was quoted at €1.20/kg. These are the best eggplants: uniform round black eggplants placed in crates holding 12 pieces. The price of lower-quality produce drops to 70 eurocents."
According to the trader, sales are livelier on Mondays and Fridays. "The other days depend on the week. All in all, we cannot complain for this first part of September."