"Of course, with such prices, businesses cannot honour the agreements with their suppliers and therefore many Italian companies risk collapsing."
On 20th March 2018, producers from Vittoria (RG), Santa Croce Camerina (RG) and Pachino (SR) occupied their respective town halls asking their Mayors and Prefects to meet with Nello Musumeci, President of Regione Sicilia, so as to find a solution to the socio-economic crisis.
First of all, the Committee is asking for the revision of European agreements due to the huge differences in production costs. In addition, there are a series of ethical reasons connected to the use of pesticides and labour. Secondly, it's requiring the activation of safeguard regulations, i.e. the application of article 7 limiting imports in case of a crisis. Finally, it demands a moratorium for all business liabilities.
At the Vittoria town hall, FreshPlaza interviewed Angelo Giacchi who, together with Giuseppe Zisa and Salvatore Di Bona, represents the committee.
"The protest was caused by the drop in prices at the Vittoria market. It doesn't seem like the situation is going to improve and demand is dropping. Slow demand is combined with competition with North Africa, where production costs are lower."
Angelo Giacchi
"Italian retailers prefer produce from Spain, Holland, Turkey and North Africa 8 times out of 10. The abundance of our supplies lowers prices further. Over the past few days, produce has remained unsold in the Vittoria, Santa Croce and Pachino markets damaging the entire sector."
Currently, around one hundred businesses have joined the committee, but the number is destined to increase considering how things are going.
"We expect that the meeting with President Musumeci will lead to negotiations between the governor and the Government to review the conditions of the Euro-Mediterranean agreement. We are also demanding stricter phytosanitary checks on incoming goods."
"This extenuating condition has led to the collapse of the production sector. We're therefore also demanding a moratorium for all business liabilities to relieve bank and tax pressure."
Institutions showed their support for the sector, as explained by Pachino Mayor Roberto Bruno: "we are very much aware of the crisis affecting the market. The drop in prices damages both businesses and families. We have done everything we could to, but will continue to support our producers."
On 21st March, the Committee issued a note saying that: "considering the willingness of Mr. Musumeci to meet a delegation of producers in Palermo, the Comitato Anticrisi Agricoltura Sicilia di Vittoria, Pachino e Santa Croce demands a visit to the Vittoria market to see the unsold produce and greenhouses full with produce that cannot be harvested."