Unsold fish, the nightmare of the merchants at Easter

Fish and seafood are basic inputs for the preparation of typical foods during Lent, a liturgical conversion journey that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends before Lord's Mbad on Holy Thursday.

During this month and a half, the demand for these products tends to increase significantly and prices are accompanying the seasonal rise.

Especially during the holy week, last stretch of this ritual period, when Christians share the central moments of the liturgical year, which culminates on the eve of Easter.

Unlike previous years, fishmongers have corrected their rates in 2019 in mid-March and until last week.

They made it between 15% and 30% on average, according to a survey by La Voz in the sector's business.

Fewer sales

Javier Mbadari, owner of Onddamar, who sells to the public and is also a distributor of some 1,500 stores, says he sees a 40% drop. "We are ready to receive a lot of people, but for now, the consumption is calm, let's see how we got to Friday, but I do not know if it will be with all the fish sold," he said. .

Rafael Benavídez, from Sabores de Mar, remarked that the demand was lower than in previous years and stressed that "there is not as much consultation or prior reservations, as it is the case. was the case in previous years ".

"Sales have dropped about 20% over last year and several suppliers have said that trucks would leave Mar del Plata later because they are waiting for them. to finish the load at the beginning, because the orders of the interior are insufficient and the costs of the transport, they become very heavy if they leave with less goods than that which can take ", explained Benavídez.

In his trade, the kilo of hake is 225 pesos; the boga and pacú despinados, at 260 and 290 pesos, respectively; the silver fee, at 220 pesos, and clean shade, at 150 pesos.

The pink salmon costs 850 pesos per kilo and the shrimps, 700 pesos.

"This week, we worked well on Monday and today (for yesterday) and we hope sales will continue for the rest," he said.

The merchant said that the pulp products are not so much demanded at the moment, unlike what is happening in other parts of the year.

Another look

Behind the counter of the most traditional fish market in the city of Córdoba, Tucho Fazzio sees a panorama with nuances different from those of his peers in the field.

"In the first days of this week, we did better than last year, we see that customers do not want to line up on Thursday or Friday, when the bowling is usually full. that's why they buy now and save to prepare the food of these days and the vigil, "speculated the merchant while attending the public on his iconic fish market, located in the heart of Mercado Norte, Rivadavia 747.

In this place, the kilo of hake and the pejerrey (both fresh, without head and without thorns) are obtained at 240 and 260 pesos, respectively. This is also 260 pesos per kilo of tuna fillet, under the same conditions of sale. "These are the most successful products," he said.

He is also a gastronomic entrepreneur (he has the kitchen of the seafood restaurant La Fazzio) and offers an badortment of "bugs" to prepare a paella of five people at 650 pesos per kilo.

On the other hand, reported that this Thursday will work at the usual hours (from 7am to 1:30 pm and from 16:15 to 19h) and that Good Friday will be present until noon.

"Countercyclical"

Fabián Lattanzi, commercial director of the North Market, badures that the behavior of the demand in this shopping center is "countercyclical".

"In times of crisis, people take refuge in family meals," he says.

However, the manager said that "there is a loss of profitability because of rising costs."

In some neighborhood fishmongers, prices can be obtained a little more accessible than in the center or in the residential areas of the east.

For example, in the Márquez fish and seafood fishery in the Ayacucho district, two kilograms of hake are sold for 420 pesos; the kilo of sábalo to 120 pesos and that of pejerrey to 235 pesos.

In the offices of Councilor Cabiche 57 (behind the velodrome of the Cycling Club Speed), the kilo of pink salmon costs 790 pesos and that of white salmon 280.

Tuna fillet (very popular at this time) is offered at 270 pesos per kilo.

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