Agriculture launches Price Observatory

The Conselleria of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, through the General Directorate of Agri-Food Quality and Local Product, in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training of the Balearic Islands (IRFAP), has presented today at a press conference the Price Observatory, a statistical tool that allows to know what percentage of the market price of the product reaches the primary sector. In this way, and for the first time, a systematic study of the difference between the price received by the producer and the price paid by the consumer is initiated.

The Minister Joan Simonet wanted to remember that "this observatory is a request from the primary sector of the Balearic Islands. It is the first time that we have specific data on what percentage of the price paid by the consumer reaches the farmers, ranchers and fishermen of the Balearic Islands."

The first data, collected during the months of June, July and August, show that, on average, fruit producers receive 31.1% of the price paid by the consumer, while vegetable producers receive 39.1%. As for meat and fish products, these percentages are 57.6% and 57% respectively, which is explained by the fact that "in these products there are fewer intermediaries between the producer and the final consumer," explained the general director Joan Llabrés. "This publication is a first step towards what should be public information that is accessible to everyone on a regular basis. Consumers must be aware of the impact that our decisions have on the primary sector and take into account that in short marketing chains, such as direct sales or cooperatives, the differential will always be more favourable to the farmer," added Llabrés.

In these three months, 3,614 prices have been collected and 344 establishments visited. It is also worth noting that the project has begun with the collection of prices for fresh products originating in the Balearic Islands, but with the progressive implementation of the Observatory the types of products analysed will be increased (milk will be added, for example) and it will be extended to organic products.

In detail, in August, as regards vegetables, the producer of red pepper has only received 18% of the market value: the producer has received 0.62 cents per kilo while the consumer has paid 3.36 euros per kilo.

As regards fruit, lemon is the product with the most detrimental differential for the farmer (16%), who has received 33 euro cents per kilo while the consumer has bought it at 2.01 euros per kilo. On the other hand, white peppers (Mallorcan red peppers), ramellet tomatoes and sea urchin melons are at percentages above 50%: thus, white pepper growers received 2.02 euros per kilo and consumers paid 3.13; ramellet tomato growers received 2.58 euros per kilo and consumers paid 4.36, and sea urchin melon growers received 1.17 euros per kilo while consumers paid 2.27.

Regarding meat, on average, between June and August, lamb and suckling pig producers received 58% of the price paid by consumers, taking into account the price per whole animal, not for each part.

In the fishing sector, in the case of sardines, the price received by the fisherman is 36% of the price paid by the consumer - €2.43 per kilo for the fisherman compared to €6.81 per kilo paid by the consumer. The most expensive species are those with a more favourable differential for the fisherman, such as the John Dory (€34.06 per kilo received by the fisherman compared to €41.03 per kilo paid by the consumer), the dentex (€29.70 per kilo compared to €38.93 per kilo) and the scorpionfish (€20.70 per kilo compared to €32.61 per kilo).