US Aphis inspectors have completed phytosanitary controls on Salvi Unacoa pears destined to the country. The container will leave this week.
"Shipping is organised as Pera Italia, i.e. under a single brand, and the produce is sold by a single interlocutor, so we can enter the American market in a cohesive manner," explains Marco Salvi (in the photo), general manager of the group.
"We're not talking about huge volumes, but enough to start a cooperation with a distribution chain concerning our Abate pears, which are still unknown to US consumers. We must not forget though, that the US are the main pear producers and exporters worldwide, so it won't be easy to compete with them."
"That is why we feel the need to commence negotiations with other countries such as China for apples and pears or importers which might be less prestigious, but are just as strategic, possibly countries in South-East Asia, Japan and Mexico."
"Kiwis are the perfect example of how fruit with a long shelf-life can be exported to many markets and does not need to depend on Italian or European demand. There is a lot we can do with pears and the only tool we have at the moment are interprofessional organisations - we need to defend them by working as a single unit. Politics and institutions must also favour the opening of new markets and help promote our products."
In the meantime, the first few months indicated that sales are much higher than 2013 both on the domestic and foreign markets. Thankfully de-stocking helped eliminating produce surplus.
Contacts
Unacoa SpA Consortile
Via Bologna, 714
44124 Ferrara
Tel.: (+39) 0532 785511
Fax: (+39) 0532 785512
Email: info@salvi.it
Web: www.salvi.it