CSO data concerning pears reveal that the percentage sold is higher than in the past seasons.
The availability of Abate Fetel, the only variety with quantities significantly higher than last year (+18%), quickly dropped below last season's levels.
The availability of Abate Fetel, the only variety with quantities significantly higher than last year (+18%), quickly dropped below last season's levels.
The latest data available was recorded on March 15th 2015 and concerns the situation in Emilia-Romagna, the leading production region.
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Initial quantities were 504,000 tons, but now there are only 52,000 tons available, 33% less than last season, despite an increased availability of 4% more. Of these, 30,000 tons are Abate pears. Volumes appear thus to be manageable towards the end of the campaign.
The pear situation in the southern hemisphere
The campaign in the Southern hemisphere has already started. 73,000 tons were shipped from Argentina, almost 30% less than last year, and 14,000 tons were destined to Italy (24,000 were sent last year).
The hailstorms that hit Argentina strongly affected the volumes destined to exports, although the country expected a production more abundant than 2014.
The foreign market
The market was affected by competition from Belgium and the Netherlands and by the Russian ban, which led to a higher availability of produce in alternative markets and therefore to an increased competition on prices.
There was a lot of pressure on prices especially at the start of the season, then prices rose a little, although they were probably not sufficient to cover the losses of the first part of the campaign.
The Italian domestic market
There is a 16% growth in consumption, which is a good surprise, especially since pear purchases had been going down for years. Of course people also buy foreign produce, but a 19% increase in the purchase of domestic produce has been estimated.
Source: CSO-Centro Servizi Ortofrutticoli di Ferrara for FreshPlaza. All rights reserved.