December 26 (BTA) - The wholesale food market index has increased by 3.34 per cent since the beginning of December, reaching 1.779 points, the State Commission for Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets reported. The base level of the index was set in 2005 at 1.000 point.

In the working week from December 20 to 23, the average wholesale price of greenhouse-grown tomatoes rose by 3.8 per cent to 2.16 leva per kilogramme, and the price of greenhouse-grown cucumbers increased by 0.3 per cent to 3.26 lv/kg. The average wholesale price of potatoes dropped by 7.1 per cent to 0.79 lv/kg. Carrots went down by 2.1 per cent to 0.91 lv/kg. Cabbage decreased by 2 per cent to 0.98 lv/kg. The price of red peppers remained unchanged at 2.07 lv/kg, and the price of green peppers rose by 1.1 per cent to 1.85 lv/kg.

In the week under review, the average wholesale price of apples increased by 0.8 per cent to 1.23 lv/kg. Lemons fell by 5.6 per cent to 1.69 lv/kg. Bananas were selling at 2.18 lv/kg. Oranges dropped by 1.2 per cent to 1.60 lv/kg. Tangerines went down by 2.9 per cent to 1.69 lv/kg.

The price of white brined cheese from cow's milk went up by 2.9 per cent to 8.66 lv/kg. Yellow kashkaval cheese of the Vitosha type rose by 0.8 per cent to 13.07 lv/kg. Sunflower oil fell by 0.3 per cent to 3.56 leva per litre. A 125 g pack of butter from cow's milk rose by 1.9 per cent to 2.18 lv/kg. Chicken was selling at 4.51 lv/kg. The average wholesale price of sugar was 1.64 lv/kg. Type 500 flour went up by 0.9 per cent to 1.18 lv/kg. Rice fell by 0.4 per cent to 2.34 lv/kg. The price of eggs remained unchanged at 0.22 lv/piece.

Between December 20 and 23, the asking price of wheat at the Sofia Commodity Exchange ranged from 540 leva per tonne to 550 leva per tonne for immediate supply, but sellers were offering 570 lv/t. Forage barley was offered for 500 lv/t, but buyers were not prepared to pay more than 490 lv/t. The selling price of maize was 505 lv/t, and the asking price was 480 lv/t. Oil-bearing sunflower was offered for 1,200 lv/t, while buyers were prepared to pay no more than 1,100 lv/t. All prices are exclusive of value added tax. VE

Source: Sofia