Italy: Expectations for the 2015/16 kiwi campaign

During a visit to Tuttofrutta Quaranta, FreshPlaza discovered that the first kiwi orchards planted by the Quaranta family date back to 1972, meaning it was the first Piedmont company to grow this fruit.

In addition to 5,000 tonnes a year of kiwis, the company also sells Italian and Spanish apricots between early May and mid August, peaches and plums (Angeleno and Flavor King) and cherries of French origin.

85% of kiwis is destined overseas (US, Canada, Brazil). In addition, due to the Russian embargo, the company identified India as a new potential market. Apricots, peaches, plums and nectarines are sold mainly on the domestic and European market.

The peach and nectarine campaign
"The 2015 stonefruit campaign was quite positive from a qualitative point of view. All species ripened quite early yet had a very high quality. We cannot say we are satisfied with the prices though - despite the lower volumes and hot weather, consumption was not as high as expected," explained owner Pietro Quaranta.

Pietro Quaranta.

Expectations for the kiwi campaign
"Things are not looking good as there will be bigger volumes this year. I believe around 500,000 tonnes will be harvested in Italy. If we consider the fact that Greece saw an increase too and that destination markets are the same, we might have 150,000 tonnes more to sell. Then there is the fact that Southern markets also have more produce, so we will have to deal with stocks from Chile and New Zealand at the beginning of the campaign."

Bacteriosis is still a problem
"In the last two years, thanks to the scientific and technical effort of regional research centres, some guidelines have been introduced to contain the disease. Despite this, we still need to be careful as not all its effects are known yet. Plants react differently depending on the year and area."

"It is still considered risky to plant new trees, as they are more affected by the bacteria. Together with another three companies and with the help of the University of Udine, we established a company to study the resistance to the disease and the qualitative characteristics of new varieties."

There is the need for a price policy and long-term planning

"We need to have a clear market policy and be organised also with a price policy. There finally seems to be the first attempts to group the supply to increase our strength."

Quaranta also believes in long-term planning. "Peaches and nectarines are no longer profitable and many have already dug up the trees. Without planning though, producers may plant many hectares of the same species, thus leading to the same problems we are dealing with now."

Contacts:
Pietro Quaranta
Tuttofrutta Quaranta s.r.l. Import-Export
Via Savigliano 64
12024 Costigliole Saluzzo (CN) - Italy
Tel.: +39 0175 230685
Email: info@tuttofrutta.com
Web: www.tuttofruttaquaranta.com

Author: Emanuela Fontana
Copyright: www.freshplaza.it