The current price levels for garlic leave Greek growers dissatisfied. "Individual growers have sold most of their first-quality stocks at 0,24–0,25 euros per piece. Second-quality garlic was paid at 0,12–0,13 euros per piece, or was not sold at all. Normally, garlic is sold in braids of 25 pieces. Last season, most garlic sold for 0,30 euros, while since then the cost has risen. Very few garlics remain in the warehouses of individual growers, who expect a price increase. The majority of the garlic sold in the free market has been almost depleted because there was pressure on growers to pay their suppliers and agronomists," states Mr. Yannis Margaritidis, president of the agricultural cooperative ASPEE Garlic Vissa.
© ASPEE Garlic Vissa
"Chinese garlic also exerts considerable pressure, being sold at prices cheaper than those mentioned above. However, retailers are selling garlic, even the small Chinese ones, at last year's levels. Some Spanish and Argentinian garlic is also on the market," adds Mr. Margaritidis.
ASPEE Garlic Vissa, located in Vissa, the most important garlic-growing area of Greece, has a different sales strategy. As its president describes: "We have hardly entered the market. In fact, we are negotiating supply programs that we expect will bring higher prices than those paid by free trade to individual growers. We have plenty of garlic, since last season we strongly increased our plantings, and we are not in a hurry to proceed with sales. Our cooperative divides its product into more than two categories; we separate our garlic into groups of five grams. We have sufficient stocks of all of them, and we plan to remain in the market until February."
© ASPEE Garlic Vissa
Finally, the prospects of the new planting season seem favorable for the Greek cooperative, which reached 25 hectares last season. "The new planting season will begin in the first week of October. ASPEE Garlic Vissa has welcomed new members, and according to the intentions of our growers, it seems that we will increase our garlic plantings once again. Our cooperative complies with Global GAP and Agro standards, our phytosanitary treatments are strictly controlled by agronomists, and the final crop quality is monitored by our buyers, including major supermarket chains," Mr. Margaritidis concludes.
For more information:
Yannis Margaritidis
ASPEE Garlic Vissa
Tel: +30 255 2071 161
Email: [email protected]