Cost of Fruit

cheap to very cheap to expensive, depending on the product and season

" don't forget to tell me to which city you are referring to." - not many cities in Malta :-)

Aha, I see... Can you provide me with one or two examples please?

during the year tomatoes range between,say 30c - €2 a kilo

georgeingozo wrote:

during the year tomatoes range between,say 30c - €2 a kilo

interesting price range. I see it's all about figuring the system out

thanks!

eat seasonal produce :-)

georgeingozo wrote:

eat seasonal produce :-)

That would be the best plan, yes... however... I also like fruit out-of-season 
Can't really eat hamburgers the whole day, although this might change in the near future since I heard about BadAss Burgers 

many fruits are imported here thus expensive.

Find the grocery van in the area with a good quality of veg/fruits and buy from him every couple of days. After 2nd week you'll see the miracle of discount

LIDL prices as of yesterday (1kg Class 1 each):

Cherry tomatoes (Italy) 1.79
Beef tomatoes (Spain) 1.99
Plum tomatoes (Italy) 1.79
Tomatoes (Spain) 1.69
Carrots (Italy) 1.19
Potatoes (Italy) 1.12
Onions 0.99
Golden apples (Italy) 1.99
Golden apples (Italy, Class 2) 1.40
Red apples 1.50-1.99
Oranges 1.69
Grapefruit (Italy) 1.49
Coconuts (Chile) 0.99 / piece
Pineapples (Costa Rica) 1.89
Clementines (Italy) 1.52
Bananas 1.19

danex2 wrote:

LIDL prices as of yesterday (1kg Class 1 each):

Cherry tomatoes (Italy) 1.79
Beef tomatoes (Spain) 1.99
Plum tomatoes (Italy) 1.79
Tomatoes (Spain) 1.69
Carrots (Italy) 1.19
Potatoes (Italy) 1.12
Onions 0.99
Golden apples (Italy) 1.99
Golden apples (Italy, Class 2) 1.40
Red apples 1.50-1.99
Oranges 1.69
Grapefruit (Italy) 1.49
Coconuts (Chile) 0.99 / piece
Pineapples (Costa Rica) 1.89
Clementines (Italy) 1.52
Bananas 1.19

Thank you very much for this! I appreciate it! 

Spiridonov wrote:

Find the grocery van in the area with a good quality of veg/fruits and buy from him every couple of days. After 2nd week you'll see the miracle of discount

Thanks for the tip! I think this might be the best solution!

The cost of fruit is not that expensive if you buy in season fruits, there are many markets and local fruiterers selling fruit and veg on the side of the roads. There is also Ta Qali and Marsaxxlok markets which is very cheap. The supermarkets can be more expensive especially buying anything at all that has been imported (not just fruit). There is also a wonderful organic movement here and a fantastic initiative in Balzan from The Veg Box see their prices as below for seasonal organic grown.

Tomatoes
2.10      per Kg

cauliflower
    2.00      per piece

broccoli
    2.00      per piece

carrots
1.90      per Kg

Leeks
1.90      per Kg

cabbage
    1.70      per piece

red cabbage
    1.70      per piece

curly Cabbage
    1.70      per piece

lettuce
    1.70      per piece

Curly Kale
     1.70      per bunch

rucola
     1.70      per bunch

chard
     1.70      per bunch

fresh garlic
      1.70      per bunch

spring onions
      1.70      per bunch

Jerusalem artichokes
1.60      per Kg

Pumpkin
1.60      per Kg

potatoes
1.40      per Kg

fennel
    1.40      per piece

centinaria
    1.30      per piece

onions
0.90      per Kg

gidra
    0.70      per piece

Kind regards

Julie Culley
Julesys Kitchen on FB

julie culley wrote:

The cost of fruit is not that expensive if you buy in season fruits, there are many markets and local fruiterers selling fruit and veg on the side of the roads. There is also Ta Qali and Marsaxxlok markets which is very cheap. The supermarkets can be more expensive especially buying anything at all that has been imported (not just fruit). There is also a wonderful organic movement here and a fantastic initiative in Balzan from The Veg Box see their prices as below for seasonal organic grown.

Tomatoes
2.10      per Kg

cauliflower
    2.00      per piece

broccoli
    2.00      per piece

carrots
1.90      per Kg

Leeks
1.90      per Kg

cabbage
    1.70      per piece

red cabbage
    1.70      per piece

curly Cabbage
    1.70      per piece

lettuce
    1.70      per piece

Curly Kale
     1.70      per bunch

rucola
     1.70      per bunch

chard
     1.70      per bunch

fresh garlic
      1.70      per bunch

spring onions
      1.70      per bunch

Jerusalem artichokes
1.60      per Kg

Pumpkin
1.60      per Kg

potatoes
1.40      per Kg

fennel
    1.40      per piece

centinaria
    1.30      per piece

onions
0.90      per Kg

gidra
    0.70      per piece

Kind regards

Julie Culley
Julesys Kitchen on FB

Thanks for your input!
It was my 1st time in tower supermarket yesterday in Malta so I got a clear picture of the fruit prices.
Looks like the best idea is really to buy it from local fruiterers. And probably taste better

Julie, do you have the contact details for The Veg Box for me please?

Anecdotally, in my experience Park Tower supermarket in St Julian's has quite good prices.

I'd also like some information about this Veg Box scheme, please.
Definitely, Marsaxlokk on sunday morning is a good source for fresh veg, fruit and fish. Direct producers are easy to recognize, they sell few, seasonal items that are very fresh. Usually vegetable, and only local fruit, never pineaple, bananas... In April some also sell lovely freezia flowers, but the season is short. And the wonderful maltese garlic (if you're patient to peel them, that is!).
Further to Ta Qali, there is a small producers' market every saturday morning in Vittoriosa (Birgu). Not very large, yet, but reasonable prices.
The trick for fresh stuff from the local stores or vans is to remember that they buy wholesale on monday morning and thursday morning. And so you should shop on monday/thursday afternoon. Lidl, on the other hand, imports from abroad (I think thursday afternoon there is also a good shopping day). In my personal experience, vegetable and fruit at Scotts are very disappointing.