High fruit prices shock passers-by and residents of Vienna-Floridsdorf! Things don’t look much better elsewhere. Experts explain how to calculate market factors and why politicians do not want to impose upper limits on exhibitors.
A small bowl of strawberries costs 9.56 euros (kilos price 11.80 euros), a kilo of grapes costs about ten euros. Passers-by and residents of the Floridsdorf market are shocked: “These are luxury prices. Who can still afford that?”, rages “Krone” reader Alfred Haberl.
No price limits
How is that possible? In principle, every exhibitor can ask for whatever he wants at the Viennese markets. “There are no price ceilings. We have had discussions about this, but the Ministry of Economic Affairs rejects it,” said market office spokesman Alexander Hengl.
“Traders also suffer from high personnel and energy costs. Anyone who wants foreign grapes in April will pay more in the autumn than for local grapes,” said Dietmar Schwingenschrot of the Chamber of Commerce, who defends the traders.
Grapes from South Africa, strawberries from Hungary
Grapes currently mainly come from Peru (by ship) or South Africa (by plane), strawberries from Hungary or Italy, says Hengl. “Unfortunately, the first goods are always worth gold. It is also expensive in terms of purchase price. “It’s really bad with apricots,” says the spokesperson for the market agency.
Once Austrian fruit and vegetables become available, imported products will become less interesting – and cheaper. Hengl believes that market executives should not be afraid to compare prices with supermarkets. But a quick local inspection of the “Krone” in Döbling shows that fruit in supermarkets is cheaper on average. In one case, local organic strawberries alone cost almost ten euros per kilo.
Internal market as explanation
The Ministry of Economic Affairs explains why politicians do not want to set upper limits on market drivers: “We live in the European internal market. Price ceilings would mean that products would not be offered in Austria, but would end up in other Member States.” It is important that the price labeling is locally correct; everything else is determined by the customer.
The market office is responsible for pricing. And it works too. There are currently no complaints in Vienna about goods being mislabelled in the markets.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
