TZOB Report: Apples Sold with 4.8-Fold Difference from Field to Market in June

Türkiye Ziraat Odaları Birliği (TZOB) published an important report detailing the difference between producer and market prices for June as well as agricultural input costs. The report revealed with data that the gap between the prices of products reaching consumers' tables and the prices at the producer and market shelves continues. TZOB Genel Başkanı Şemsi Bayraktar stated that the issue is being followed, emphasizing that besides supply-demand imbalance in pricing, seasonal transitions also play a determining role.

The product where the price difference was most severe was determined to be apples; apples, determined to be 18 lira 75 kuruş on average at the producer, were sold in markets for 89 lira 87 kuruş, reflecting a difference of approximately 4.8-fold to the consumer. This exorbitant difference in apples was followed by basic food products such as carrots with 284.2%, strawberries with 283.5%, green beans with 251.3%, and cherries with 246.9%. The fact that the kilogram of strawberries purchased from the producer was 43 lira, while this figure rose to 164 lira 91 kuruş in markets, clearly revealed the magnitude of the gap in between.

Among 38 different food products monitored in the market, an increase was observed in 21 and a decrease in 17 as of June. The most striking increase was experienced in strawberries by 81%, while carrots with 52.2%, zucchini with 32.8%, and dry onions with 32.5% joined the increasing trend. In contrast, the 37.8% decline in tomato prices provided some relief for consumers, and the products whose prices dropped the most were followed by watermelon and chickpeas.

When looking at the producer side, it was recorded that out of 30 products examined, there was a price increase in 12, a decrease in 9, and no change in 9. In particular, while there was a serious increase of 112.5% in zucchini prices at the producer compared to the previous month, the producer price of watermelon decreased by 54.8%, making the effects of seasonal fluctuations on agricultural production felt.

Another important dimension of the report constituted agricultural input costs; price volatility continues in inputs such as fertilizer and diesel that burden the backs of producers. Although there was a cheapening in ÜRE, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate fertilizers compared to May, the increase in fertilizer prices is still high when viewed on an annual basis. Additionally, the annual increase in diesel and electricity prices being 31.5% and 25.1% respectively, the increase in agricultural pesticides being 27.8%, and the increase in feed costs push producer costs up, directly reflecting on the final product prices.