Just like apples, pears to be shipped to the US also have to meet numerous requirements, that is why logistics is most important. The protagonists of this adventure are the CSO of Ferrara and the Agrintesa, Apofruit, Fruit Modena Group, Mazzoni, Patfrut and Salvi consortia.
Photo by Ferrara's CSO.
The project regards Abate Fétel pears, a firm, juicy and sweet variety from Emilia-Romagna, where it is cultivated on 238 ha.
The 35 production areas (APU) have been checked and authorised by Aphis (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture). The same procedure was followed for the APFs (checking plants), as stocking, packaging and chilling are carried out by the single consortia.
According to Simona Rubbi, Planning and Legislation Manager for the CSO, one of the most delicate phases is packaging. "In order to enable cold air to circulate and meet Cold Treatment objectives, we had to choose a suitable packaging."
In particular, 2, 4 and 8 kg single-layer basket boxes were chosen for Abate pears. In addition to cold air circulation, in fact, specific requisites concerning the placing of the pallets and the uniformity of packaging size in the containers must also be met. "We also have to use containers that have been approved by Aphis USDA."
Luckily, operators from Emilia-Romagna did not find it too difficult to meet the requirements, as they are already familiar with the cooling procedures for kiwis.
The journey to the States lasts approx. 2 weeks, plus a couple of days for loading/unloading and 3 or 4 days for inspection on arrival. Shipments leave from Genoa and arrive in Newark.
There have been some changes for a number of exporters since the first shipment. Gruppo Salvi, for example, changed the image of the product: "the pears we shipped in February 2014 left under the Consorzio Pera Italia brand so they did not have the logos of the single producers any more," explains Pietro Grassi, Quality Manager for AFE and Slavi Unacoa.
But there is more, "as this time, we only sent smaller grades in 4 kg crates." This in turn meant that the size of single-layers went from 40x60 cm to 30x50 cm, making them easier to handle.
If apples from Trentino Alto Adige had to deal with abundant US productions, pears from Emilia Romagna had to come to terms with the fact that people were not really familiar with the product. That is why Marco Salvi, general manager of UNACOA S.p.A., said that "we need to work on promoting and spreading the knowledge of Italian pears. We need to coordinate to launch our produce on that market."
Simona Rubbi adds that "Abate Fétel pears is not was US consumers are used to," meaning that their russeting can be seen as a defect. This issue will probably be among the ones on the agenda for the revision of the "Work Plan".
Author: Emanuele Mùrino