Fresh Market Digest | Week 8, 2026
The European wholesale fruit market enters the second half of February 2026 in a state of strategic transition. While the citrus sector is navigating a varietal handover from early-season harvests to premium late-winter hybrids, the pip fruit category remains stable due to cold-storage reserves. Across the four major hubs—Madrid, Athens, Berlin, and Rungis—market participants are balancing rising refrigeration costs with the need to liquidate stocks before spring quality degradation.
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Spain’s wholesale fruit market: Mercamadrid
The Spanish market continues its citrus transition and remains a value leader in Europe for protected varieties such as Orri mandarins and Pink Lady apples.
Citrus prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Primafiori lemon |
1.49 |
1.50 |
+0.7% |
Firm demand absorbing high yields |
|
Nadorcott mandarin |
1.54 |
1.50 |
-2.6% |
Peak supply, prices adjusting downward |
|
Orri mandarin |
2.62 |
2.60 |
-0.8% |
Premium anchor, high volume |
|
Hernandina mandarin |
1.03 |
1.00 |
-2.9% |
Phasing out, variable quality drives prices down |
|
Clemenville mandarin |
1.59 |
1.69 |
+6.3% |
Tightening supply but high demand causing price spike |
|
Salustiana orange |
0.81 |
0.65 |
-19.7% |
High volume |
|
Navel Late orange |
1.42 |
1.40 |
-1.4% |
Stable |
|
Sanguina orange |
1.72 |
1.78 |
+3.5% |
Seasonal peak, high appeal |
|
Lane Late orange |
1.48 |
1.50 |
+1.3% |
High Brix levels, popular |
|
Navel orange |
0.96 |
0.94 |
-2.1% |
Budget choice |
|
Navelina orange |
0.78 |
0.88 |
+12.8% |
Last remaining stocks, premium |
|
Grapefruit |
1.40 |
1.40 |
= |
Flat |
● Weather factor: Recent storms and strong winds have damaged many late-season Mandarin orchards. Expect Class I prices to rise by March as clean fruit becomes scarce.
● Export strategy: Exporters are prioritising the Lane Late and Orri varieties for northern markets, where the price premium justifies the high logistics costs.
Pip fruit prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Granny Smith apple |
1.67 |
1.60 |
-4.2% |
Competition from Italian stocks causing price correction |
|
Fuji apple |
1.87 |
1.85 |
-1.1% |
Steady, domestic prefrence |
|
Golden apple |
1.67 |
1.60 |
-4.2% |
Oversupplied |
|
Royal Gala apple |
1.62 |
1.60 |
-1.2% |
Entry-level price point |
|
Reineta apple |
1.82 |
1.75 |
-3.8% |
Demand dropping |
|
Pink Lady apple |
2.10 |
2.10 |
= |
Premium |
|
Starking apple |
1.62 |
1.60 |
-1.2% |
Flat |
|
Green Doncella apple |
2.59 |
2.50 |
-3.5% |
Highest priced apple |
|
Blanquilla pear |
2.25 |
2.20 |
-2.2% |
Tight supply, low yields |
|
Conference pear |
1.94 |
1.80 |
-7.2% |
Short shelf life forcing stock clearance |
|
Doyan de Comice |
2.72 |
2.70 |
-0.7% |
Reaching nd of storage life |
|
Ercolini pear |
2.50 |
2.50 |
= |
Stable, release matching demand |
● Storage concerns: High sugar content due to a hot summer has made pears more delicate. Market participants are advised to move Conference stocks quickly.
● Price decline: There is inventory pressure due to significantly higher European apple and pear stocks this year, forcing wholesalers to lower prices to liquidate volumes before quality degrades in storage.
Strawberry prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Strawberries |
4.11 |
4.50 |
+9.5% |
Price hikes due to supply crisis |
● Production deficit: Harvest volumes from Huelva are significantly below historical averages for mid-February due to cold, wet conditions, leading to higher prices for this time of year.
Greece’s wholesale fruit market: OKAA (Athens)
The Athens market shows a decisive split between a tightening citrus market and a stagnant, storage-reliant pip fruit category. The variety handover is currently the main price driver, as early-season Clementines vanish, the market is shifting toward late-season hybrids.
Citrus prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Lemons |
1.10 |
1.10 |
= |
Domestic supply tightening |
|
Nova mandarin |
0.90 |
1.10 |
+22.2% |
Early peak volumes cleared; demand pushing prices up |
|
Page mandarin |
1.20 |
1.40 |
+16.6% |
Premium demand, high brix levels and good shelf-life |
|
Navel orange |
0.60 |
0.60 |
= |
Peak harvest maintaining supply |
● Market opportunity: With Spanish and Italian citrus production down this season, Greek Navels are seeing a revaluation in Northern Europe. Traders should look for export premiums.
● Weather impact: Continuous rains have affected the skin finish of many late Navels, making Class I certified fruit even more valuable for exporters.
Pip fruit prices
|
Variety |
Week 7 (€) |
Week 8 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Krystallia pear |
1.70 |
1.70 |
= |
Volume leader |
|
Granny Smith apple |
1.20 |
1.20 |
= |
Static |
|
Starking Delicious apple |
1.20 |
1.20 |
= |
Stable, well-managed stock |
|
Fuji apple |
1.50 |
1.50 |
= |
Premium anchor, high Brix levels, domestic preference |
● Energy squeeze: Cold-storage operators are facing rising electricity costs. While prices haven't moved this week, expect a clearance phase in early March.
● Quality advantage: Greek Krystallia pears are outperforming Dutch Conference pears this season in terms of firmness and Brix. Wholesalers may leverage this status to maintain the €1.70/kg floor.
Germany’s wholesale fruit market: BLE
Data currency note: Data utilises official BLE reports from Week 7 compared to Week 6.
The German market is defined by a heavy reliance on domestic stred pip fruit and is a primary destination for Mediterranean exports. Early-season easy-peelers are currently being replaced by high-brix late hybrids.
Citrus prices
|
Variety |
Week 6 (€) |
Week 7 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Mandarins, Spain |
2.23 |
2.17 |
-2.7% |
Prices lowered to accelerate turnover |
|
Mandarins, Italy |
2.45 |
2.45 |
= |
Stable |
|
Navel orange, Spain |
1.33 |
1.35 |
+1.5% |
Strong demand |
|
Moro orange, Italy |
2.05 |
2.04 |
-0.5% |
Stable high demand, prices firm |
|
Lemons, Spain |
1.42 |
1.42 |
= |
Dominant |
● Origin dynamics: Spanish mandarins are the primary drivers of the segment, while Italian arrivals currently serve as a secondary supplement.
● Blood orange focus: Italian Moro and Tarocco varieties are the focus for high-end retail, maintaining consistent pricing due to their distinct properties.
Pip fruit prices
|
Variety |
Week 6 (€) |
Week 7 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Elstar, Germany |
1.28 |
1.29 |
+0.8% |
Market leader, primary choice |
|
Jonagold, Germany |
1.21 |
1.20 |
-0.8% |
Steady, sufficient supply meeting consistent demand |
|
Braeburn, Germany |
1.22 |
1.21 |
-0.8% |
Balanced supply, aligned with sales |
|
Pink Lady, Italy |
2.31 |
2.29 |
-0.9% |
Premium, highly valued |
|
Abate Fetel, Italy |
3.02 |
2.96 |
-1.9% |
High value, quiet demand |
● Stock management: Traders are reducing prices slightly to ensure stocks move before quality begins to decline in long-term storage.
● Variety split: While Elstar and Jonagold set the tone, club varieties like Kanzi and Pink Lady are maintaining higher wholesale price floors.
Strawberry prices
|
Variety |
Week 6 (€) |
Week 7 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Strawberries, Greece |
7.53 |
7.69 |
+2.1% |
Defining the market |
|
Strawberries, Italy |
8.76 |
8.01 |
-8.6% |
Inconsistent supply |
|
Strawberries, Spain |
7.08 |
6.34 |
-10.5% |
Supply issues |
● Origin dynamics: Greek exports are rising rapidly and are leading the market in Germany, filling the low-season gaps left by Spanish and Italian exports.
France’s wholesale fruit market: Rungis
Data currency note: Data reflects Week 7 pricing compared to Week 6 benchmarks.
The Rungis market shows a price floor defined by high-value heritage varieties and late-season citrus shifts. The citrus category continues its varietal handover as the primary harvest pivots toward late-winter specialities.
Citrus prices
|
Variety |
Week 6 (€) |
Week 7 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Lemon, Spain |
1.80 |
1.70 |
-5.6% |
Prices ease as volume peaks |
|
Navelina orange, Spain |
1.18 |
1.43 |
+21.2% |
Supply becoming irregular as season ends |
● Seasonal shift: While Navelina oranges are at a seasonal high as they finish their cycle, traders are closely monitoring the arrival of Spanish Lane Late to provide consistent volume for the next phase.
Pip fruit prices
|
Variety |
Week 6 (€) |
Week 7 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Conference pear, France |
2.24 |
2.20 |
-1.8% |
Storage stocks maintain stable mid-range pricing |
|
Doyenne du Comice pear, France |
2.56 |
2.60 |
+1.6% |
Premium, nearing end of storage life |
|
Gala apple, France |
1.88 |
1.84 |
-2.1% |
Stability |
|
Golden apple, France |
1.54 |
1.58 |
+2.6% |
Firming prices due to storage costs |
|
Granny Smith, apple, France |
1.80 |
1.80 |
= |
Consistent demand, standard benchmark |
|
Reinette gris du Canada apple, France |
1.94 |
1.94 |
= |
Heritage variety, high price |
● Storage: Wholesalers have reached a sweet spot in pricing that satisfies retail demand while managing the flow of stocks from cold storage.
● Quality differentiation: As the storage season progresses, the price gap is expected to widen between standard apples and club varieties like Pink Lady, which currently trades at nearly double the price of local standard apples.
Strawberry prices
|
Variety |
Week 6 (€) |
Week 7 (€) |
Change |
Market status |
|
Strawberries, Belgium |
20.00 |
18.60 |
-7.0% |
Prices ease from peaks |
|
Strawberries, Spain |
8.70 |
9.40 |
+8.0% |
Low volumes push prices up |
● Market imbalance: The market is experiencing a supply-demand mismatch. Supply issues in Spain are causing prices to rise.
Market outlook
The European fruit market is defined by cost-driven volatility. While Navel oranges have found their seasonal floor, the transition to late-season varieties like Lane Late could trigger a bidding war among Northern retailers, as yields in Spain and Italy are lower than average.
Key trends to watch:
● Storage liquidation: Rising storage costs will likely prompt an accelerated clearance of standard apple and pear stocks in early March to save on overhead.
● Origin shift: With Spanish and Italian production down, expect Greece and non-EU Mediterranean producers like Egypt to capture a larger market share in budget-friendly orange segments.
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