The price of oranges

We are now at the start of the season when oranges are picked. The earliest varieties are ready and their price is said to be 22 cents per kilo which betters the 18 cents per kilo last year during the same period. This summer this year has been a lot hotter than last year which is why their are fewer fruit and less fruit equals higher price.

Four cents per kilo more may sound insignificant but for farmers it is the difference between profit and loss. Last year the price dropped to a low of 11 cents per kilo, well below the cost of production which is said to be between 18 and 19 cents.

Now consider the price you pay in shops for oranges. I found an online shop selling organic oranges at 4.20 euros per kilo and Waitrose in the UK selling Seville oranges at £2.29 per kilo (3.28 euros at current exchange rate of 1.43 euros to the pound).