He makes a “wake-up call” to the operators: “Olive oil cannot be a luxury product”
MADRID, 28 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has predicted that in a “complicated and complex moment” like the one we are experiencing, there will be a “containment” in food prices during the first half of next year.
“We hope that in the first half of next year there will be a containment and progressive drop in food prices,” Planas assured in an interview with the ‘Más de uno’ program on ‘Onda Cero’, which is collected by Europa Press.
Regarding the rise in prices, the head of Agriculture has recognized that the “food price index is at the highest levels in the last ten years”, while highlighting the impact of the energy factor, since “gas and oil have an importance on food production”. “If we don’t manage to reduce those costs, those price levels will remain high,” he warned.
“We are in a very complicated and complex moment, but now my biggest concern is fertilizers, because in the short term it is not being noticed, but we must achieve a level of production autonomy in the EU, because we need to have a production capacity to try to get out of there. It is a complex situation, but hopeful, that we manage, as in the rest of the economy, to bring prices down,” he explained.
Regarding whether the Vice President and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, continues to work with supermarkets to close a basic food basket, Planas believes that “everyone is making an effort so that each one assumes their responsibility, prices do not increase and that food has prices that are not affordable for the entire population”. “The problem is not one of regulation, what is needed is more competition in distribution,” she stressed.
On the other hand, the head of the branch has warned that olive oil cannot become a luxury product and has not hesitated to appeal to operators. “Gourmet products seem fine to me, but a product like olive oil is very important for it to be a middle-class product,” he stressed.
“Prices are five euros at origin, which is a lot. Now prices are high, but there will be no shortages, even though production this year is short, it will allow us to supply the market. It is a warning to operators so that they no one goes too far, there is a responsibility in setting prices, obviously it derives from costs, but it has a part related to the sale. I am calling attention, because my concern is Spain and that at this moment all families can have that olive oil is not produced as a luxury product”, he underlined.
