"September of moderate prices expected for Greek peaches”

Greek peaches from the Dimitra cooperative, located in the late cultivation zone of Velvento, will be available until the end of September. Mr. Nikos Sakoulas, manager of the cooperative, describes how production is expected to unfold in the coming period: "The late varieties from Velvento did not suffer the severe damage that affected the earlier ones. Peaches will be available until the end of September. Nectarines, however, are a different story. They will run out by mid-September. At least the ones that are truly worth having. There are no noteworthy varieties of later nectarines."

"Regarding prices, we see the same scenario every year. When peaches are the new fruit on the market, they command high prices; then, roughly from July 20 to August 20, prices drop. This is due to the way the production calendar is distributed. One-third of Greece's production falls within this period. Looking ahead, I expect prices to rise again, but not to the 2.5 euros per kilo that large peaches in single-layer packaging reached at the start of the season. I cautiously estimate prices around 1.80 euros," says the executive of the Greek cooperative.

He clarifies: "This is a multifactorial issue. On one hand, peaches have been on the market for a long time, and some people have already had their fill. On the other hand, grapes are already coming in, apples are now entering the market, and watermelon prices have fallen. Also, the Spaniards still seem to have a large quantity of peaches and nectarines."

Unlike other large Greek cooperatives, Dimitra does not pack peaches and nectarines in the field, but at its packing facility. "For sorting, we select personnel who have no relationship with the producers delivering the fruits. This is a policy we follow strictly to ensure that there is no deviation in the tray from the quality characteristics that our clients demand. European markets are accustomed to the texture and appearance of peaches offered by the Spanish and Italians—meaning, without fuzz. We offer the same type of peach, but without washing and brushing. We use air-blowing technology. Thanks to this, our peaches remain completely intact," concludes Mr. Sakoulas.

For more information:
Nikos Sakoulas
A.C. Velvento Dimitra
Tel: +30 246 403 1592
Mob: +30 697 747 1002
Email: [email protected]
https://dimitracoop.gr/en/home/