Banana: Arrivals in the EU from all sources have been small. Even so, performances varied considerably from one country to another within the community. Although the Spanish market and, to a lesser degree, the German market achieved good results, performance was much more contrasted in France where the monthly price reached only an average level. Avocado: October 2004 will remain in operators' memories as one of the worst months ever. An average price of some 4.50 euros per box gives an idea of the extent of the catastrophe. Arrivals, especially from Chile, remained much too large during the whole of the first fortnight, making the price of Hass plummet to depths that have rarely been seen. The distinct slowing of arriving supplies in the middle of the month made it possible to change the trend. However, prices did not recover significantly because large stocks were still available. Orange: The summer season finished as well as it had started. The average monthly price was more than 15% up on the average for the past five years. As markedly late ripening affected the production of Spanish Naveline, overall supply was distinctly short in spite of the fairly ample deliveries from the southern hemisphere. Furthermore, demand was good throughout the month. Grapefruit: The scenario was unusual for a month that marks the transition between summer and winter seasons. The market was normally supplied at the beginning of October by the off-season origins (Cuba and Honduras) but gradually became short of supplies because of the almost total absence of Florida, seriously hit by hurricanes this year. Easy peelers: Operators expected a difficult start to the season given the large early clementine harvest in Spain. The market was even worse than had been imagined. Temperatures distinctly higher than the seasonal average had a doubly negative effect by slowing demand on the main consumer markets and slowing fruit ripening in the production zones (persistence of acidity). Prices w