50% increase in fruit and vegetables in April

Fruit and vegetable imports to Greece increased in April, rising 50.2% compared to the corresponding month in 2023.

According to data from the Association of Export and Handling Companies of Greece Fruits Vegetables and INCOFRUIT-HELLAS Juices, the biggest increase in imports was recorded in potatoes, reaching 44,590 tons (+102.5%) compared to 22,018 tons in April 2023.

Followed by apples with an increase of 344% (3,626 tons in April 2024 against 816 tons in April 2023), tomatoes with 89.9% (334 tons in April 2024 against 176 tons in April 2023) and oranges where they reached – trade 413 to tons 413. this April.

Include fresh fruits and vegetables

As the Association’s Special Adviser, Giorgos Polychronakis, told the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, “the importation of fresh fruits and vegetables shows the continuous growth of foreign competition both in our country and in the markets another community”.

According to him, “it is amazing to import fresh fruits and vegetables produced in our country self-sufficiently with quantities that can cover domestic demand and that the rest exported, setting records year after year in quantities and values.” .

He emphasizes that all products that enter our country from third countries “should meet the same quality standards that are necessary for EU producers” saying that “a similar control should be also be done on exported fruit and vegetable products to ensure the reputation of the products. which will further increase their exports”.

Imports in the first quarter of 2024

According to iefimerida, total imports increased in the first quarter of 2024. According to the same data, the number of imported fruits and vegetables reached 321,705 tons compared to 242,314 tons in the corresponding period of 2023, an increase of 32.76%.

Imports are structured as follows:

175,810 tons of potatoes compared to 112,601 tons in 2023 (+56.05%) coming from Egypt, France, Germany and Cyprus.
90,027 tons of bananas against 81,863 tons in 2023 (+9.97%) coming from Ecuador followed by Costa Rica and Colombia.
7,742 tons of onions, against 17,278 tons last year, down -55.2%. Most imports come from the Netherlands, followed by Austria and Germany.
1,282 tons of tomatoes compared to 434 tons in 2023 (+195.4%) coming from Turkey and Spain.
1,934 tons of pepper / bell pepper compared to 1,393 tons in 2023 (+38.8%) coming from Jordan, Israel and the Netherlands.
10,887 tons of apples compared to 3,071 last year, up +254.5%, came from North Macedonia, followed by Poland and Italy.
2,085 tons of avocados compared to 1,002 tons last year (+108.1%) coming from the Netherlands, followed by Israel and Cyprus.
1,132 tons of kiwifruit compared to 144 tons last year (+686%) coming from Iran followed by Italy and Spain
1,470 tons of orange compared to 225 last year (+553%) come mainly from Egypt and other countries continue with smaller quantities.
4,643 tons of mushrooms against 4,517 tons in 2023 (+2.8%) coming from Poland, followed by Romania and Italy. Finally, as can be seen from the Society’s data, other fruits and vegetables were also introduced such as zucchini, carrots, cabbage, lettuce and even radishes etc.