Imports of fresh fruit and vegetables up 31.36% in January

Imports of fresh fruit and vegetables grew 31.36% in January, totaling 47,070 tons, from 35,832 tons in January 2023, Incofruit-Hellas said in a report. Imports of potatoes, bananas and onions recorded the biggest percentage increases. Potato imports totaled 15,110 tons in January (up 24.68%) from Egypt, Cyprus and France. Banana imports totaled 19,551 tons (+14.34%) from Ecuador, Costa Rica and Guatemala, while onion imports totaled 2,238 tons (+170.9%) from Egypt, India and Austria.

Nikos Polychronakis, a special advisor of Incofruit-Hellas, said these increased imports from third countries reflect the existing difference in labour, social and environmental issues between community and foreign producers and called for a freeze on negotiations with MERCOSUR, not to ratify an agreement with New Zealand and to freeze other negotiations with Chile, Kenya, Mexico, India and Australia.