This year, banquets with fish and seafood are more expensive, shows the survey by the Itajaí Consumer Protection Office (Procon) published this Monday. The research compared the prices of cigars, corvina, salmon, côngrio, anchovies, sole, shrimp, squid, mecca, hake, hake and dorado in the 26 boxes in Itajaí and found, on average, around a 2% increase.
To everyone’s surprise, the price of salmon fell 12.7% and is selling, on average, at R$89.50 per kilo. The popular sardine, also known as cigar, increased by 30%. Even with the significant increase, sardines are still the cheapest fish in the city, and can be found for an average price of R$12.99 per kilo. The complete survey is available in the table below.
Even with the rise in the price of fish, the Fish Market in the center of Itajaí was full on Wednesday afternoon. Families are already organizing themselves to prepare the dishes…
To everyone’s surprise, the price of salmon fell 12.7% and is selling, on average, at R$89.50 per kilo. The popular sardine, also known as cigar, increased by 30%. Even with the significant increase, sardines are still the cheapest fish in the city, and can be found for an average price of R$12.99 per kilo. The complete survey is available in the table below.
Even with the rise in the price of fish, the Fish Market in the center of Itajaí was full on Wednesday afternoon. Families are already organizing themselves to prepare the dishes for Good Friday and Easter Sunday and it is those who “sell the fish” who make the profit.
“Prices are high, but we have to buy. Easter week we have to take a fish. This year I bought tilapia and I’m going to make it with shrimp sauce”, says civil servant Roberto. He stopped by the Fish Market in the center on Wednesday afternoon and says he is already preparing for Easter dinner.
Health agent Viviane also stopped by the market on Wednesday afternoon, to accompany her mother when shopping for fish for Holy Week, as she does every year. In Viviane’s view, the prices are good. “You can’t miss croakers and anchovies in my house, but I don’t buy the same fish every year, it varies depending on the price and season of the fish,” she explains.
Renata, who lives in Ourinhos, in the interior of São Paulo, says that she came to Mercado do Peixe on Wednesday afternoon accompanied by her daughter. The family came to spend the holiday in Itapema, took the opportunity to stroll through the market and start shopping for the Easter holiday.
Who sells the fish
Helen, a salesperson at Teco Pescados, box 24 of the downtown Fish Market, explains that Holy Week is one of the most important of the year for fishmongers. “The demand for fish is huge. Our expectations are very high. What people have been looking for most so far is chubby, hake fillet, salmon and shrimp,” she comments. In box 24, there are options starting at R$12 per kilo, as is the case with the chubby one.
For Júlio Serpa, owner of JR Pescados, in box 26, the Catholic tradition of Itajaí is what drives fish sales during Holy Week. “We look forward to this week as if it were the beginning of a summer season. This is the week in which consumers are most attracted to the desire to eat fish. The expectation is that this Holy Week will be better than the previous one”, he adds.
At JR Pescados, the biggest promotion is sardines, at R$7.99 per kilo. According to Júlio, demand is also high for cod, salmon, and fillets of hake, hake, sole, as well as prawns, which are selling for R$ 39.99 per kilo.
“Sales have increased significantly compared to last week, and the expectation is only to increase further. It’s the most important period of the year”, adds seller Pedro Henrique, from stall 25 of the center’s Fish Market.
Special hours
The downtown Fish Market will be open from 7am to 7pm until Thursday, and on Friday it will be open until 2pm. On Saturday, it opens from 7am to 4pm. In the case of the São Vicente Fish Market, opening hours on Thursday will be from 7am to 9pm. On Good Friday, stalls are open until 2pm. On Saturday, opening hours will be from 7am to 3pm. The unit is located at Rua Alderman Airton de Souza, 508.
