PRICE VARIABILITY OF SEASONAL FRUITS IN WHOLESALE MARKETS: THE CASE OF STRAWBERRIES – PRELIMINARY RESEARCH FINDINGS
2025
Wioleta Sobczak-Malitka
The fruit market is characterized by high price volatility of a seasonal nature, resulting from supply instability and the asymmetry between supply and demand. The aim of this article is to examine the price dynamics of strawberries in selected wholesale markets during the 2023-2024 period. Daily price data were collected from the Warsaw Agricultural and Food Wholesale Market S.A. in Bronisze and the Agricultural and Food Wholesale Market S.A. in Radom. The study period corresponds to the strawberry season in Poland, covering the months from April to July in both years. The number of observations (daily price quotations per market) was 75 in 2023 and 76 in 2024.The results indicate substantial price volatility in both markets, which may be attributed to fluctuating supplies of seasonal fruit – increasing harvest volumes over the course of the season, followed by sharp declines. A detailed analysis of daily strawberry prices in 2023-2024 suggests that both average and maximum prices varied significantly depending on the day of the week. These fluctuations could reflect changes in consumer demand patterns. Notably, the highest average and maximum prices were recorded midweek, possibly indicating peak consumer demand or reduced supply levels during those days.
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