"Golden apples": how Cyclone Daniel raised prices by 100%

Consumers are in awe of new prices for the seasonal fruit apples, as production declines of more than 30% due to weather conditions and flooding in Thessaly led to a 100% increase in prices.

“Unstable weather conditions in late spring, during the flowering period of apple trees, negatively affected this year’s production. In addition, catastrophic floods in Thessaly, where more than 8 thousand tons of apples are produced, create an explosive mixture in the market,” says Vasilis Garanes, vice-president of the Orina agricultural cooperative in Ag.

Representatives of the agricultural cooperative Zagora Pelion note that a reduction in production was expected this year in any case. However, Cyclone Daniel caused serious damage to the crop and some trees were uprooted. In fact, in the first period after the disasters, even the remaining apples on the trees could not be harvested because rural roads were destroyed and farmers did not have access to orchards.

Production in Kastoria also shows losses of 60-70% due to severe frosts affecting the crop. At the same time, the first estimate shows that this year the volume of apple production will decrease by 20,000-25,000 tons from 60,000 tons last year.

Thus, after last year’s record, when apple production in Greece reached 321,000 tons, this year it will decrease by 34%, to 212,000 tons. This development of events, according to industry representatives, will bring an increase in prices for seasonal fruit.

“For some varieties, prices may even be twice as high as last year – producers sold their products at a price of 0.15-0.30 euros per kilogram, and this year they will sell at a price from 0.30 to 0. 60,” said the President of the Kastorian Fruit and Vegetable Association Demosthenes Moisidis.

In Aegeio, producer prices for early varieties range from 0.40-0.50 euros per kilogram, from 0.20-0.35 euros in 2022. According to the Athens Central Vegetable Market, on November 6, the wholesale price of Golden Delicious apples was 1.2 euros per kilogram from 0.90 last year (+33.3%), while Granny Smith and Starkin Delicious had a wholesale price of the former from 0. 60 euros per kilogram in 2022 has now risen to 1.2 euros per kilogram (+100%) and at Starkin Delicious jumped from 0.70 euros to 1.2 euros per kilogram (+71.4%). At the same time, prices for Starkin apples, from 1.1 to 1.2 euros last year, this year jumped to 2.2-2.98 euros per kilogram.

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