The fruit and vegetable market operators in Moldova are once again concerned that the decline in potato wholesale prices beginning in the latter half of December 2022 may continue in January 2023.
Low demand is the same factor that could lead to the next likely decrease in potato prices.
As per EastFruit data, potatoes were last week sold in large quantities at Moldovan city markets for December rates, or USD0.30-0.31/kg. However, the majority of vendors lamented the deterioration of the already weak demand.
“A few weeks earlier, mostly medium, and small-sized wholesale traders had hoped for an increase in demand for basic food products, including potatoes and borsch vegetables, from the education establishments and food service from mid-January. However, it is not yet clear how kindergartens, schools, and universities will operate, due to the spread of seasonal influenza and other diseases,” the above-mentioned website wrote.
Some wholesalers claim that beginning around October of last year, some of the retail in Moldova has moved to sell inexpensive Ukrainian potatoes. The operators of Moldova’s fruit and vegetable market tend to predict that the average level of the wholesale price for potatoes would decline rather than rise shortly.
A source: https://www.potatobusiness.com