site.btaWholesale Fruit Prices Rise; Cucumbers, Zucchini and Onions Lead Vegetable Gains in Past Week

Fruit prices rose in Bulgaria between August 18 and 22, while staple foods and vegetables moved in mixed directions, the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets said in its weekly bulletin.

The market index for wholesale food prices increased by 0.4 percentage points to 2.235, up from 2.226 the previous week. The base value of 1.000 was established in 2005.

Lemon prices rose the most, by 4.51% to BGN 4.50 per kg, watermelons gained 1.23% to BGN 0.66 per kg. Apricots increased by 1.81% to BGN 3.93 per kg, peaches edged up 0.27% to BGN 3.67 per kg, and apples advanced 1.89% to BGN 2.81 per kg.

Cucumbers again saw the sharpest increase among vegetables, rising 16.06% to BGN 2.37 per kg, while carrots posted the steepest decline, down 17.22% to BGN 1.00 per kg. Zucchini climbed 13.80% to BGN 1.55 per kg, and dry onions advanced 10.80% to BGN 1.19 per kg. Potato prices edged up 0.21% to BGN 0.97 per kg.

Tomatoes fell 12.97% to BGN 2.20 per kg. Green peppers dropped 15.59% to BGN 1.70 per kg and red peppers eased 4.26% to BGN 2.65 per kg. Cabbage lost 6.67% to BGN 0.84 per kg.

Cow cheese rose 0.96% to BGN 11.78 per kg, while Vitosha yellow kashkaval cheese slipped 0.49% to BGN 17.53 per kg. Yogurt with 3% or higher fat content fell 2.08% to BGN 1.41 per 400 g cup, while milk gained 1.36% to BGN 2.39 per litre. Butter (125g pack) eased 0.71% to BGN 3.08.

Chicken meat declined 2.19% to BGN 6.80 per kg. Eggs (size M) increased 3.35% to BGN 0.37 each wholesale.

Rice slipped 0.49% to BGN 3.28 per kg, while lentils rose 1.51% to BGN 4.30 per kg and beans advanced 1.82% to BGN 4.25. Wheat flour (grade 500) gained 0.90% to BGN 1.57 per kg. Sunflower oil edged down 0.87% to BGN 3.19 per litre, and sugar fell 0.22% to BGN 1.82 per kg.