Good harvest drives down fruit and vegetable prices in Casablanca wholesale market

Prices for most fruits and vegetables have remained relatively stable, and in some cases declined, at Casablanca’s wholesale market since the beginning of summer, according to traders, who attribute the trend to abundant agricultural production following a favorable farming season.

Industry professionals say the strong harvest, boosted by this year’s rainfall, has increased supply and helped ease prices for many seasonal products, although some fruits continue to command higher prices.

Abderrazak Chabi, president of the Association of Traders at Casablanca’s wholesale fruit and vegetable market, said prices have not only stabilized but have fallen noticeably in recent weeks.

“The situation is mainly due to the good rains, unlike previous years, which were marked by drought,” Chabi told Hespress.

He said the market has received record quantities of agricultural products, contributing to lower prices across several categories.

According to Chabi, vegetables such as onions, potatoes, carrots, leafy greens and watermelon are currently available in large quantities at affordable prices. He noted, however, that some products, including peaches and honeydew melons, remain more expensive because of various factors that influence pricing.

Despite the decline in wholesale prices, Chabi argued that consumers do not always benefit from lower costs in retail outlets, particularly in large supermarkets.

“Unfortunately, prices in some commercial stores bear little resemblance to those in the wholesale market, even though they compete for the same products from farms,” he said.

Chabi called on economic authorities in provinces and prefectures to strengthen market oversight to ensure that retail prices better reflect wholesale costs and remain compatible with consumers’ purchasing power.

According to the weekly bulletin published by Casablanca Prestations, the company responsible for managing the market, tomato prices ranged between MAD 1.20 and MAD 4.50 per kilogram, while squash sold for between MAD 2 and MAD 5 per kilogram.

Carrot prices ranged from MAD 1.50 to MAD 3.30 per kilogram, green onions from MAD 1.50 to MAD 2.50, and potatoes from MAD 3 to MAD 4.50 per kilogram.

Among fruits, bananas were sold at prices ranging from MAD 7 to MAD 10.50 per kilogram, while oranges cost between MAD 2.50 and MAD 4.20 per kilogram. Apples were priced between MAD 8 and MAD 15 per kilogram, and watermelon ranged from MAD 1 to MAD 2.80 per kilogram.