THE IRISH retail market for fruit and vegetables fell by 3.1 per cent in volume and nearly 6 per cent in value during the 12-week period ending June 14th, according to a Bord Bia report.
In its weekly bulletin, the food board said it believed the drop in the value of household food purchases was due to the numerous promotions which were taking place in the fruit and vegetable sector.
The report showed the largest decline was in potatoes with both value and volume down 11 per cent; but it said the arrival of new-season potatoes should help to arrest this slide.
However, it reported there was good news for most of the rest of the major vegetable crops, with volumes of broccoli up 18 per cent, cabbage up 12 per cent, cauliflower up 20 per cent, carrots up 11 per cent, turnips up 16 per cent and swedes up 15 per cent.
Other major lines such as mushrooms, tomatoes and lettuce showed modest growth while pepper sales were in slight decline.
“One predicted outcome of the downturn in the economy is more home cooking, and the figures seem to back up this view as all these are traditional accompaniments to a home-cooked meal,” the Bord Bia report said.
On the fruit side, sales are down 7-8 per cent in both value and volume, and the report asked if this was due again to more trying economic times. “The big mover is blueberries, with sales up 91 per cent in volume over the same period last year . . . Strawberries are also doing well, with sales up 23 per cent in volume terms, although the value of sales was down by 27 per cent.”
Apple sales for the 12-week period were 9 per cent higher. Citrus was down marginally, while there was a big fall-off in banana sales with value and volume down by 36 per cent.