Argentinian lemons' flow into the Greek market continues without problems, according to Michalis Kioutsoukalis, owner of the importing-exporting company Cosmos Fruit, headquartered in the Central Market of Thessaloniki. "We do not confirm the rumors that Argentinian lemons will be available in smaller volumes for the last phase of their season. On the contrary, what we recently noticed was a temporary halt in demand, which is completely natural, but there is no problem with supplies. Our suppliers will continue to provide us with all the necessary volumes, and imports will finish in about one month in accordance with our program. Prices are similar to those of last year," says the Greek wholesaler.
© Cosmos Fruit
He adds, "South African lemons are also present in the market, but there are not many. We see no quality problems, and imports are also developing smoothly. The new Greek lemons will arrive in about a month, and they will take a priority position in the business of Thessaloniki's wholesalers."
In contrast to the lemon market, the orange market is dominated by local fruits. "The great majority of our loads consist of Valencia oranges from the area of Laconia. There is a lack of large calibers, but this is not necessarily bad or difficult to manage, since these oranges are mostly intended for juice making," Mr. Kioutsoukalis notes.
© Cosmos Fruit
Cosmos Fruit is also dedicated to supplying Greek HO.RE.CA stores, the demand of which has increased significantly during the last four months of the tourist season. "The demand for limes, mangoes, and coconuts has skyrocketed. Although limes are mainly intended for cocktail making, buyers do not opt for cheap products or brands. They want first-quality products. Demand for pineapples has increased less, since it is more embedded in the Greek diet and consumed all year round," stresses Mr. Kioutsoukalis.
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Finally, regarding the export market, Mr. Kioutsoukalis finds the peach season quite challenging: "We are exporting to Baltic countries and even Finland, but it is very difficult to gather the needed volumes." The next big thing for his company will be kiwifruit exports. "We see limited green kiwi availability in Italy, and we are confident that Greek Hayward prices will remain at high levels for another season," the Greek wholesaler concludes.
For more information:
Michalis Kioutsoukalis
Cosmos Fruit
Tel: +30 2310 776 667, +30 2310 774 800
Email: [email protected]
https://www.cosmosfruit.gr/en