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Stonefruit prices juicy
14 Jan 2004
Stonefruit prices are at a 15-year high: in November, shortages drove apricot prices at Melbourne Market to $19.60 a kilogram, nectarines and peaches as high as $10/kg and plums to $8.50/kg. Prices should fall during peak production this month but Summerfruit Australia said the good start will help compensate growers who have done it hard over the past couple of years.
But Swan Hill Summerfruits Development Association said prices are not as high as they should be given the low volumes available. President Tony Siciliano said demand had stalled when supermarkets placed significant mark-ups on the fruit. This had extended the turnaround time and prematurely driven down prices.
Most sales for last November and December were $1-$2/kg higher than the previous years. But the market price is not the price to the grower, who receives what remains after packing, freight and storage costs plus agents' fees are deducted. Summerfruit Australia chairman Pat Wibaux believes growers need $2-$3.40/kg to break even.
Weekly Times, 14/1/04, page 7.
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