The pandemic has skyrocketed prices for fruits and vegetables in Greece and the hikes reach sometimes up to 200 percent.
According to data from the Athens Central Market (OKAA), from Thursday, April 2, to Tuesday, April 7, wholesale prices increased by 50% in tomatoes (from 0.50 to 0.75 euros per kilo), by 55,5% in cucumbers (from 0.45 to 0.70 euros per kilo), by 200% in cauliflower (from 0.50 to 1.50 euros per kilo), by 33% in zucchini (from 0.80 euros per kilo to 1.20 euros per kilo) and by 20% in lettuce (from 0.25 to 0.30 euros per piece).
Lemon prices have also risen by 10% (from 1 euro per kilo to 1.1 euros), oranges by 7.14% (from 0.70 to 0.75 euros), mandarins by 9, 09% (from 1.10 to 1.20 euros per kilo), strawberries by 28.57% (from 0.70 to 0.90 euros per kilo) and to thick peppers by 5% (from 1.90 euros to 2 euros per kilo).
Marketers estimate that as long as the situation is not normalized, the impact on prices will be bigger in the near future.
Producers claim that, among other things, there are difficulties in harvesting.
According to some media, the restrictive measures have paralyzed the market, with the result that products remain unavailable and cannot be “moved” from city to city and from country to country, due to the traffic restrictions. At the same time, exports have increased by 150% due to Italy in lockdown.
Prices are expected to rise also in rice, as there is a significant increase in global demand.
It is characteristic that, according to Reuters data, the price of rice has climbed to the highest levels since April 2013.
