It will not be the only food that rises in price, but grapes are one of those products that cannot be missing from the Christmas shopping basket, especially in view of the end of the year celebration. This year it will be “significantly” more expensive, as reported by Mercabarna wholesalers this Wednesday at a press conference, although they do not dare to predict an exact percentage of increase in price. However, this fruit has had a cumulative price increase of 20% from August to now.
“Drought and climate change affect us. There are more expensive products because there is less quantity and also less quality,” acknowledged Jaume Flores, vice president of the Mercabarna Major Companies Association (Assocome). Most of the grapes eaten in Barcelona and its metropolitan area come from southern Spain, Italy and Greece, regions affected by the lack of rain.
The Aledo variety, which is more resistant once picked and is the one usually served at the end of the year, is also affected. However, according to the vice president of the fruit and vegetable wholesalers union, Pere Prat, in the coming days shipments will arrive from South America that will manage to "satisfy demand and contain the price increase." Prat and Flores agree despite the adverse circumstances: “There will be no shortage of grapes this Christmas.” Another of the vegetables affected by this lack of water is the artichoke.
Not all fruits and vegetables will be more expensive than at Christmas 2022. In this sense, pineapple, kiwi and pomegranate, among others, are expected to be cheaper. Broccoli, cabbages and potatoes will also be more affordable; while endive, lettuce and spinach will maintain their value.
In general terms, Mercabarna wholesalers expect a campaign similar to last year and sell 103,000 tons of fresh product during these holidays. Regarding inflation and rising prices, Flores assures that they have been in “eight or nine stormy months.” But at the same time, the vice president of Assocome highlights that "since October" the situation has changed and it is once again in "a normal situation." “The recent CPI data on fresh foods has given us some respite,” he said.
Despite this, as usual, there are foods that will be more expensive and others cheaper. Fish and seafood have accumulated a price increase of 5% since January. “We wholesalers are going to adjust our margin because we want to sell. It is already expensive enough,” promised the president of the fish wholesalers union, Àngel Máñez, in reference to fresh seafood. Frozen seafood will be cheaper than a year ago, with products such as langoustine shrimp, red shrimp, squid or lobster.
Sole and monkfish tail will have a higher value than a year ago, while squid and sea bream will maintain a stable price. Wild cod and farmed sea bass will decline. In fact, farmed fish and seafood is gaining market share and already reaches 40%.
