With exceptional imports from Romania, not of good quality - as wholesalers say - are trying to cover last-minute shortages in the the meat market, for Easter table. Prices have risen by 2€ to 4€ compared to 2019 in butchers, supermarkets and central markets, even reaching 14€ per kilo in Attica. .
It is unknown whether they will have left lambs and goats the Maundy Thursday, say SKAI market players and call on consumers to ensure today for the supply of lamb and venison.
Thessaloniki: 20% more expensive obelias - Great shortage of Greek lambs
«Due to the increased exports of quality Greek lamb and goat in the previous period, there is not a large supply of Greek lamb on the market and so, based on the law of supply and demand, the price this year is recorded increased by at least 20% compared to last yearI», said the president of the Butchers Association of the prefecture of Thessaloniki to APE-MPA, Savvas Kesidis.
According to him, from 11 euro / kg up to 13-13,5 euro per kilo, depending on the quality and the area of breeding, ranges today the price of lambs in butchers of Thessaloniki. In the same period last year, the price was around 9-9.5 euros per kilo. At the same time, three to four euros a kilo cheaper for Romanian lambs, a country from which many imports were made.
«Consumers, especially this year, should be particularly suspicious with regard to the purchase of obelias and be sure that they will not find a Greek product below 11 euros per kilo,» notes Mr. In this context, he urged consumers to place their orders for the Easter table in time, assuring that «those who order by tomorrow will manage to find Greek goat and lamb», but also to be particularly careful about «unsealed goats and lambs, those sold online or even door-to-door» as they «pose a risk to public health».
Over 30% shortages of local lambs - Very large exports
Meanwhile, as stated, speaking to the AP-MPA the president of the Livestock Cooperative of Kastoria Cereals and Livestock Products of the prefecture, Dimitris Moschos, «the shortages of local lamb and goat exceed 30% on the Greek market». This, according to him, is due by 50% to the increase in feed (+37%), which prevented many Greek farmers from keeping their animals and by 50% to the large exports that took place.
Of course, as he added, «the situation that has been created due to the above factors benefits farmers who have been able to maintain livestock and so now sell from 6.5 euros / kilo up to 7 euros / kilo, when last year they had product and below 5 euros / kilo.
Among other things, Mr Moschos also assessed that «if traditionally 50.000-60.000 lambs are exported from our country, this year they exceeded 85.000»
