A new pest detected in Malta is one of the factors behind strawberries being in short supply this spring, according to an agriculture expert. Lovers of the fruit, which is currently in season, have faced steeper-than-usual prices per punnet. Malcolm Borg, president of Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi, said a previously unknown mite was one of three likely reasons why the latest harvest was a poor one.
"The other two factors are the weather, with south winds in February bringing with them high levels of humidity and diseases, and limited access to certain highly effective pesticides that have been banned by the EU," Borg said, adding that the strawberry is a very sensitive plant.
"There are alternative pesticides available, but the companies don't ship to Malta because it is a small market and therefore not worth it for them," he said.
When Times of Malta visited several greengrocers, the average price for a large punnet of strawberries was around €7. However, Borg said prices varied from place to place, and even from one week to the next.
Read more at Times Malta
