Abundant harvests drive down fruit, vegetable prices across Morocco

Morocco’s wholesale fruit and vegetable markets are experiencing an unprecedented surge in supply this summer, with traders saying the country’s strong agricultural season is helping stabilize prices after years of drought-driven inflation.

Industry professionals at the wholesale markets of Casablanca and Inzegane say the abundance of seasonal produce has fundamentally changed the market, breaking with the pattern of previous summers when prices typically climbed as demand peaked.

“This is unlike anything we’ve seen in years,” Abderrazak Chabbi, president of the Association of Traders at Casablanca’s Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, told Hespress English.

According to Chabbi, the plentiful rainfall recorded during the latest agricultural season significantly boosted production, particularly for crops that depend on groundwater, including watermelon, melon, grapes and other seasonal fruits.

“The volume of produce entering the market exceeds anything we’ve experienced over the past 15 years,” he said, noting that some seasonal crops have reached markets more than a week earlier than usual.

Prices ease as supply rises

Wholesale prices have fallen across a wide range of fruits and vegetables, reflecting the increase in supply.

Grapes are currently selling for between MAD 2.5 and MAD 7 per kilogram, with average-quality varieties trading at around MAD 3.5 to MAD 4. Higher-quality grapes continue to command premium prices.

Melons, sourced primarily from Ksar El Kebir and Larache, are selling for less than MAD 1 to MAD 1.5 per kilogram, while watermelons range from MAD 0.50 to MAD 1.20 per kilogram.

Prices for peaches and nectarines vary depending on their origin—including Agadir, the Gharb region, Meknes, the Atlas Mountains and Marrakech—with wholesale prices ranging between MAD 4 and MAD 12 per kilogram. Traders say around MAD 8 per kilogram represents a typical market price, adding that lower prices do not necessarily indicate inferior quality.

Prickly pear production, meanwhile, remains limited as farmers continue recovering from the damage caused by the cochineal insect outbreak that devastated plantations several years ago.

Fresh figs from Doukkala and Ouezzane are currently selling between MAD 8 and MAD 10 per kilogram.

Vegetable supplies have also improved considerably, with onions selling for MAD 1 to MAD 2 per kilogram, while tomatoes, potatoes and carrots remain widely available.

Supply, not speculation

Chabbi rejected claims that lower prices are linked to speculation or intervention by middlemen, arguing that supply and demand remain the primary drivers of market prices.

“The balance between supply and demand is what determines prices,” he said. “Blaming speculators has become an easy explanation used by some officials instead of addressing the sector’s structural challenges.”

He also criticized the management of wholesale markets, pointing to shortcomings in organization, sanitation and food safety, and called for greater consultation between market authorities and industry professionals.

According to Chabbi, the sharp contrast with previous years underscores the impact of agricultural conditions.

“After five consecutive years of drought, prices reached exceptionally high levels,” he said. “This season, abundant production has exceeded demand, demonstrating once again that supply and demand—not other factors—ultimately determine market prices.”

Changing map of seasonal produce

A trader at Inzegane’s wholesale market, one of Morocco’s largest produce distribution hubs, said the current fruit supply reflects production patterns across several agricultural regions rather than being concentrated in the Souss region.

According to the trader, peaches and nectarines are currently supplied mainly by Meknes, the Atlas region and the Gharb, while figs come primarily from Ouezzane, Chefchaouen and Doukkala.

Prickly pears are sourced largely from southern provinces stretching from Tan-Tan to Tiznit and areas beyond Agadir.

The trader added that clementine season has not yet begun, although limited production continues near Agadir. Larger volumes and higher-quality fruit are expected later in the year when the citrus harvest reaches its peak.