Fresh Market Digest | Week 5, 2026
This Week 5 market report analyses a critical seasonal transition across Europe’s major wholesale produce hubs: Spain’s Mercamadrid, Greece’s OKAA, Germany’s BLE, and France’s Rungis market. As the EU enters late January, our data-driven digest captures a market in balance: Mediterranean citrus is reaching its peak harvest volumes, while the pip fruit category remains shielded from price volatility by strategic cold-storage reserves.
From the plummeting prices of Greek Navel oranges to the structural premiums commanded by French and Italian apples, this report provides the essential price evolution data and market insights needed to navigate the current winter campaign.
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Spain’s wholesale fruit market
Spain continues to be the dominant volume anchor for European citrus, though the market is currently split between early-variety pressure and late-season strengthening.
Citrus fruit
Orange price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Navelina |
1.02 |
0.97 |
↓ 4.9% |
|
Navel |
1.03 |
1.06 |
↑ 2.9% |
|
Lane Late |
1.00 |
1.09 |
↑ 9.0% |
|
Navel Late |
1.12 |
1.19 |
↑ 6.3% |
Navelina, the highest-volume early orange (1.26M kg), softened as peak harvest flows weighed on the bottom of the market. Late Varieties: Lane Late and Navel Late strengthened as trade transitions toward later-season fruit with tighter availability and stronger export demand. This split reflects seasonal variety rotation rather than a structural shortage. This split reflects seasonal variety rotation rather than a shortage.
Mandarin price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Hernandina |
1.41 |
1.43 |
↑ 1.4% |
|
Nadorcott |
1.60 |
1.67 |
↑ 4.4% |
|
Clemenvilles |
1.80 |
1.80 |
= |
|
Orri |
2.78 |
2.80 |
↑ 0.7% |
Mandarins show significant price resilience, particularly Nadorcott, where firm retail demand and export programs are absorbing supply. Orri remains structurally premium, trading roughly 70% above Hernandina, driven by high eating quality and established brand programs.
Lemon price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Primafiori |
1.51 |
1.48 |
↓ 2.0% |
Primofiori lemons eased slightly, reflecting ample Spanish supply typical for this winter stage.
Pip fruit
Apple price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Golden |
1.60 |
1.60 |
= |
|
Royal Gala |
1.60 |
1.61 |
↑ 0.6% |
|
Granny Smith |
1.68 |
1.72 |
↑ 2.4% |
|
Fuji |
1.88 |
1.90 |
↑ 1.1% |
|
Reinta |
1.70 |
1.74 |
↑ 2.4% |
|
Pink Lady |
2.05 |
2.03 |
↓ 1.0% |
|
Starking |
1.55 |
1.53 |
↓ 1.3% |
|
Green Doncella |
2.88 |
2.82 |
↓ 2.1% |
Apples provide structural stability, with mainstream varieties trading in a tight €1.60–€1.75/kg range. Adjustments reflect varietal substitution and the gradual drawdown of storage fruit.
Pear price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Conference |
1.91 |
1.94 |
↑ 1.6% |
|
Blanquilla |
2.26 |
2.30 |
↑ 1.8% |
|
Ercolini |
2.13 |
2.38 |
↑ 11.7% |
|
Doyenné du Comice |
2.25 |
2.32 |
↑ 3.1% |
|
Passa Crassana |
1.71 |
1.80 |
↑ 5.3% |
Pears trended higher, especially Ercolini (+11.7%), suggesting limited availability in specific varieties linked to storage quality or export demand.
Greece’s wholesale fruit market
Greece continues to fill gaps in the EU citrus supply, maintaining competitive pricing despite rising input costs.
Citrus fruits
Orange price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Navel |
0.70 |
0.60 |
↓ 14.3% |
The orange sector is seeing high volatility due to peak seasonal domestic volume. A 14.3% price drop indicates supply is significantly outpacing local demand at the Athens central market.
Mandarin price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Common mandarins |
1.00 |
1.00 |
= |
|
Clementines |
1.00 |
1.10 |
↑ 10.0 |
|
Nova mandarins |
- |
0.90 |
- |
|
Page mandarins |
- |
1.25 |
- |
While common varieties hold steady, clementines have seen a 10% uptick as the season transitions. The introduction of Nova and Page varieties signals a healthy mid-winter varietal rotation.
Lemon price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Lemons |
1.00 |
1.00 |
= |
Lemons have reached a price ceiling at €1.00/kg, maintaining a high equilibrium compared to the €0.60 levels of early 2025.
Pip fruits
Apple price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Golden Delicious |
1.30 |
1.30 |
= |
|
Granny Smith |
1.20 |
1.20 |
= |
|
Starking Delicious |
1.20 |
1.20 |
= |
|
Fuji |
1.50 |
1.50 |
= |
The apple market is stable. Prices remain unchanged across all four major varieties, indicating that cold-storage releases are perfectly synchronised with current demand.
Pear price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Krystallia |
1.70 |
1.70 |
= |
Krystallia pears remain steady at €1.70/kg, resisting the fluctuations seen in the Spanish market.
Germany’s wholesale fruit market
The German market reflects a premium pricing environment for high-quality imports alongside stable domestic storage stock.
Citrus fruits
Orange price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Navel (Size 1/2), Spain |
1.42 |
1.41 |
↓ 0.7% |
|
Navel (Size 1/2), Greece |
1.32 |
1.90 |
↑ 43.9% |
|
Moro (Blood Orange), Italy |
2.43 |
2.38 |
↓ 2.1% |
Spanish Navels remain the volume anchor. However, Greek Navels surged 43.9% as the market revalued these arrivals against tightening Italian competition. Italian Moro blood oranges are now widely available, leading to a slight seasonal price easing.
Mandarin price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Clementines (Size 1/2), Spain |
1.92 |
2.13 |
↑ 10.9% |
|
Mandarins (Large), Italy |
2.92 |
2.80 |
↓ 4.1% |
|
Clementines (Size 1/2), Italy |
1.92 |
1.80 |
↓ 6.3% |
A supply split is emerging in the soft citrus category. Spanish Clementines are strengthening (+10.9%) as mid-season varieties peak. Conversely, Italian arrivals are seeing downward pressure, trading at a 15% discount to their Spanish counterparts.
Lemon price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Primofiori (Size 3/4), Spain |
1.58 |
1.80 |
↑ 13.9% |
Spanish Primofiori lemons saw a sharp 13.9% increase this week. While Spanish fruit dominates the BLE, a slight tightening in premium-sized availability allowed wholesalers to push higher asking prices.
Pip fruits
Apple price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Elstar (Size 75/80), Germany |
1.23 |
1.35 |
↑ 9.8% |
|
Golden Delicious, Italy |
1.55 |
1.65 |
↑ 6.5% |
|
Jonagold (Size 70/75), Germany |
1.20 |
1.10 |
↓ 8.3% |
|
Pink Lady (Size 75/80), France |
2.56 |
2.64 |
↑ 3.1% |
Apples are showing a trend of varietal rotation. Domestic Elstar rose nearly 10% as demand focused on high-quality German stock, while French Pink Lady trades at nearly double the price of local apples.
Pear price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Abate Fetel (Size 70/75), Italy |
3.18 |
3.37 |
↑ 6.0% |
|
Conference (Loose), Netherlands |
1.50 |
1.35 |
↓ 10.0% |
|
Williams Christ, Italy |
2.40 |
2.49 |
↑ 3.8% |
Italian Abate Fetel pears remain the premium choice, up 6%. In contrast, Dutch Conference pears eased significantly, likely due to quality differences in late-season lots.
France’s wholesale fruit market
French markets are seeing a clear seasonal transition, with domestic pip fruit holding firm and citrus supply beginning to tighten.
Citrus fruits
Orange price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Navelina (cat. I 3, 81-92 mm), Spain |
1.40 |
1.15 |
↓ 17.8% |
|
Maltaise (cat. I 5-6) |
- |
2.10 |
- |
Spanish Navelina prices dropped 17.8% as high-volume peak arrivals reached the Rungis market. The introduction of the premium Maltaise sanguine at €2.10/kg marks the beginning of the mid-winter blood orange season.
Mandarin price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Hernandina (cat. I 1), Spain |
2.80 |
2.40 |
↓ 14.3% |
|
Hernandina (cat. I 2), Spain |
2.60 |
2.10 |
↓ 19.2% |
Hernandina clementines saw a double-digit decline this week as late-January volumes increased.
Lemon price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Primofiori (cat. I 4, 58-67 mm), Spain |
1.80 |
1.80 |
= |
|
Primofiori (Extra 4), Spain |
- |
2.30 |
- |
Standard Spanish lemons remain perfectly flat at €1.80/kg. The market has expanded this week to include extra-grade offerings at €2.30/kg, reflecting specific demand for blemish-free fruit in the French retail sector.
Pip fruits
Apple price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Gala (cat. I, 201/270g) |
1.80 |
1.75 |
↓ 2.8% |
|
Golden (cat. I, 201/270g) |
1.60 |
1.80 |
↑ 12.5% |
|
Granny Smith (cat. I, 201/270g) |
1.80 |
1.80 |
= |
|
Reinette grise (cat. I, 201/270g) |
2.00 |
2.00 |
= |
Mainstream apples like Granny Smith and Reinette Grise show total price stagnation. Golden Delicious apples rose 12.5%, suggesting a tightening of high-quality domestic storage stocks.
Pear price evolution
|
Variety |
Week 4 (€) |
Week 5 (€) |
Change |
|
Conference (cat. I, 70-75 mm) |
2.30 |
- |
- |
|
Doyenne du comice (cat. I, 75-80 mm) |
2.60 |
2.30 |
↓ 11.5% |
|
Abate Fétel (cat. I, 70-75 mm), Italy |
- |
3.20 |
- |
Domestic Doyenne du Comice prices fell to €2.30/kg, closer to those of other winter varieties. The top of the market is now occupied by Italian Abate Fétel pears, which entered at a premium of €3.20/kg due to limited availability in premium sizes.
Analysis & market outlook
The Week 5 market demonstrates a two-speed recovery. In the citrus sector, standard Navel oranges are at their most affordable during the peak Mediterranean harvest, while late-season mandarin hybrids like the Orri maintain structural premiums.
The pip fruit sector remains stable. Market resilience is driven by controlled-atmosphere storage, although rising energy costs for this high-tech preservation are beginning to squeeze margins.
Looking ahead, any further price relief in citrus will depend on the scalability of alternative origins as the primary Spanish campaign begins its late-season transition.
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