Fresh Market Digest | Week 9, 2026
As February draws to a close, the European Union’s wholesale fruit markets are defined by the arrival of winter strawberries, alongside solid citrus supply and balanced pip fruit stocks. This report analyses domestic fruits and their price movements across the four major hubs—Madrid, Athens, Berlin, and Rungis.
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Spain’s wholesale fruit market: Mercamadrid
Citrus prices
|
Variety |
Week 8 (€) |
Week 9 (€) |
Change |
|
Primafiori lemon |
1.50 |
1.50 |
= |
|
Nadorcott mandarin |
1.50 |
1.26 |
-16% |
|
Orri mandarin |
2.60 |
2.60 |
= |
|
Hernandina mandarin |
1.00 |
1.00 |
= |
|
Clemenville mandarin |
1.69 |
1.70 |
+0.6% |
|
Salustiana orange |
0.65 |
0.60 |
-7.7% |
|
Navel Late orange |
1.40 |
1.40 |
= |
|
Sanguina orange |
1.78 |
1.73 |
-2.8% |
|
Lane Late orange |
1.50 |
1.50 |
= |
|
Navel orange |
0.94 |
0.95 |
+1.1% |
|
Navelina orange |
0.88 |
0.90 |
+2.3% |
|
Red grapefruit |
1.40 |
1.40 |
= |
● The 16% drop in Nadorcott prices due to its harvest peak and high volume offers a tactical buying window before quality dips. Meanwhile, Lane Late and Orri remain the export favourites due to superior shelf life.
● Salustiana and Navelina are exiting the market. The 7.7% drop in Salustiana shows that buyers have moved on to late-season Navels. The strange 2.3% price rise for Navelina is a scarcity spike as the few remaining high-quality lots command a premium from buyers who aren't yet ready to switch their supply lines to the more expensive Lane Late.
● Although the average price for Primafiori lemons is €1.50, the price range is €0.80-1.90, indicating a very bifurcated market as Class I (large-calibre) fruit is scarce.
Pip fruit prices
Apples: Most varieties are flat. Fuji (€1.85) and Royal Gala (€1.50) are stable, while Verde Doncella (€2.50) remains the market's luxury pip fruit.
Pears: Conference Pears have stabilized at €1.80. The price floor has been found, but shelf-life risk remains high for storage stocks.
Strawberry prices
|
Variety |
Week 8 (€) |
Week 9 (€) |
Change |
|
Strawberries |
4.50 |
4.13 |
-8.2% |
● The price dip is deceptive. It is driven by moisture damage from recent adverse weather, with affected fruit being sold at lower prices.
Trader’s takeaway
● Buy: Nadorcott Mandarins. This is the seasonal price floor. High-volume entry now is advised before supply tightens in March.
● Sell: Salustiana Oranges. The window is closed. Transition all inventory to Lane Late to avoid liquidation losses.
● Watch: Stone Fruit. Early-season Peaches and Nectarines have arrived at €2.50. Volume is low (15 tonnes), but they are already drawing consumer attention away from apple sales.
Greece’s wholesale fruit market: OKAA (Athens)
Citrus & pip fruit prices
|
Variety |
Week 8 (€) |
Week 9 (€) |
Change |
|
Krystallia pears |
1.70 |
1.70 |
= |
|
Lemons |
1.10 |
1.10 |
= |
|
Nova mandarin |
1.10 |
1.10 |
= |
|
Page mandarin |
1.40 |
1.40 |
= |
|
Navel orange |
0.60 |
0.60 |
= |
|
Granny Smith apples |
1.20 |
1.20 |
= |
|
Starking Delicious apples |
1.20 |
1.20 |
= |
|
Fuji apples |
1.50 |
1.50 |
= |
● There is a zero-percent change across all major categories this week. Greek producers have reached a price equilibrium.
● At €0.60, the Greek Navel is significantly undercutting the Spanish equivalent (€0.95), making Athens the go-to sourcing point for discount retailers.
Trader’s takeaway
● Buy: Navel Oranges. With a €0.35/kg spread between Athens and Madrid, the arbitrage opportunity for exports is at its widest point this year.
● Sell: Nova Mandarins. While the price is stable for now, the Spanish Nadorcott drop could eventually pull down Greek prices. Move stocks before this happens.
● Watch: Lemon Stability. If Spanish lemon prices continue to firm, expect Greek Lemons to see a rise by early March as exporters seek cheaper alternatives.
Germany’s wholesale fruit market: BLE
Data is released with a one-week lag, so this analysis compared week 7 with week 8 data.
Citrus prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
|
Mandarins, Spain |
2.17 |
2.20 |
+1.4% |
|
Mandarins, Italy |
2.45 |
2.63 |
+7.4% |
|
Navel orange, Spain |
1.35 |
1.32 |
-2.2% |
|
Moro orange, Italy |
2.04 |
2.24 |
+9.8% |
|
Lemons, Spain |
1.42 |
1.56 |
+9.8% |
● Spanish Primofiori lemons have gained a near-monopoly in some markets, allowing traders to successfully push for higher valuations.
● In the orange segment, Spanish fruit leads.
Pip fruit prices
● Domestic leaders: Elstar (€1.23), Jonagold (€1.11), and Braeburn (€1.14) remain the primary choices. Prices have seen minor fluctuations. Italian imports of Royal Gala, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith are intensifying to fill gaps left by declining German storage volumes.
● Pear category: Italian Abate Fetel and Santa Maria dominate. Prices for Italian Abate Fetel remain at a high premium, averaging €3.52/kg for large calibres.
Strawberry prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
|
Strawberries, Greece |
7.69 |
7.53 |
-2.1% |
|
Strawberries, Italy |
8.01 |
7.08 |
-11.6% |
|
Strawberries, Spain |
6.34 |
8.76 |
+38.2% |
● The 38% jump in Spanish strawberry prices reflects the scarcity premium for the first high-quality arrivals of the season, while Greek and Italian prices are softening as their campaigns mature.
Trader’s takeaway
● Buy: Navel oranges (Spain). With demand showing saturation and supply well-covered, prices are stable or slightly dipping, offering good turnover opportunities.
● Sell: Domestic apples with quality issues. As the season progresses, uneven quality is being reported in some domestic lots. It is advised to move these before further discounting is required.
● Watch: Lemons. The lack of competition has given Spanish exporters significant pricing power. Monitor non-EU (Egyptian, Turkish) volumes closely, which could deflate the current Spanish premium.
France’s wholesale fruit market: Rungis
Data is released with a one-week lag, so this analysis compared week 7 with week 8 data.
Citrus prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
|
Lemon, Spain |
1.70 |
1.70 |
= |
|
Naveline orange, Spain |
1.43 |
1.43 |
= |
● Prices remain the same this week.
Pip fruit prices
● Apple consistency: Core French varieties, including Gala (€1.84), Granny Smith (€1.80), and the heritage Reinette Grise du Canada (€1.94), have all maintained their week 7 pricing.
● Pear category: Conference pears from French storage are holding at €2.20, while Doyenne du Comice stays at €2.60. Supply is currently deemed sufficient to meet a demand that is steady.
Strawberry prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
|
Strawberries, Belgium |
18.60 |
18.60 |
= |
|
Strawberries, Spain |
9.40 |
9.40 |
= |
● Strawberries show stability, although the Spanish sector is suffering severe weather issues. This could trigger a price hike in the near future.
Trader’s takeaway
● Buy: Gala & Granny Smith apples. With prices flat and storage stocks healthy, these offer the most reliable retail margins.
● Sell: Oranges. Because quality is varied, wholesalers are currently making price concessions to move stock quickly.
● Watch: Strawberries. Severe weather conditions in Spain have hurt production. A shortage and a price spike are possible.
Market outlook
The final week of February is a window of opportunity for buyers to secure high-quality late-citrus before unpredictable March weather further impacts orchard yields. In the pip fruit sector, the market is currently perfect for buying standard varieties, but perfect for selling for anything with a premium or club label.
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