Parallel to the spring-like weather, the melon and stone fruit season has now begun at the local Vienna Wholesale Market. "Similar to last year, the first shipments of Dumara watermelons from Morocco arrived in calendar week 17," says Baris Sahin, managing director of Petrik & Sahin OG. "There are already beautiful, large fruits weighing over 10 kg, which is not a given at the start of the season. With purchase prices around EUR 1/kg, the produce is not too expensive, which in turn contributes to the encouraging demand." In addition to Moroccan watermelons, the first Kırkağaç and Galia melons from Turkey are also expected to arrive in week 19, the fruit wholesaler adds.
Baris Sahin recently switched from Mauritanian to Moroccan watermelons.
Bumpy start to the stone fruit season
Another cornerstone in the summer fruit category is stone fruit from the Northern Hemisphere. Sahin: "We received our first shipments of apricots, nectarines, and peaches from Spain in week 18, one to two weeks later than usual. The quantities are still manageable, which is probably partly due to the weather in the Spanish growing regions. Due to the relatively high prices, I would describe the current demand as rather subdued. However, if the weather remains this nice, this could change in a few days."
Stone fruit from Spanish cultivation. The first Paraguayos of Spanish origin are also expected to be available in week 19.
Moroccan Nadorcott clementines
The end of the citrus season is approaching
Alongside the start of the melon and stone fruit season, citrus fruits from the Northern Hemisphere are gradually disappearing from the market. The last Moroccan clementines of the season are now in circulation. "Now that the Turkish Murcott campaign has come to an end, we are offering Moroccan Nadorcott to bridge the gap, which is expected to be available for another one to two weeks. Peruvian satsumas are already available, but we prefer to wait for the first Tangos, which will gradually arrive on the market from the beginning of May," concludes Sahin.
The Turkish melon season is now also underway, with the first shipments to Kirkagac and Galia.
Petrik & Sahin OG offered its customers Italian early potatoes of the Spunta variety, sourced from the Verona wholesale market, on a trial basis in calendar week 18. According to Sahin, the large early potatoes met with encouraging demand.
For more information:
Baris Sahin
Petrik & Sahin OG
Großmarkt Wien-Inzersdorf
Laxenburgerstraße 365 C6 69-74
Tel: +43 1 6150014
[email protected]
www.sahinfruit.at