"Considerable strawberry quantities are coming in from Spain at low prices. We are talking about varieties with a questionable quality at prices hovering around €1.30-1.50/kg, i.e. below both production and transport costs," explains Carmela Suriano, CEO of Club Candonga.
"All this affects our Italian producers as, though the quality of their produce is higher, they have to compete with such abundant supplies causing commercialization and remuneration problems."
"Considering the bad weather of the past few months and therefore the low production, commercialization should pick up, also because production is in full swing in many of the crops."
"But volumes on sale are so high that it is hard to make a profit. Even Candonga quotations have dropped to €2.50-2.80/kg while they reached as much as €3.50/kg over the past few weeks."
"Even though prices remain low, we are noticing a certain interest by retailers for the domestic produce. The strawberry campaign is almost over in Spain, so we are hoping that the situation will pick up with suitable quotations soon."
As regards the promotional and communications operation set up by Ortofrutta Italia and started on April 1st, the manager reports that "it is a strategic initiative to promote the Italian strawberry sector. Regardless of their origin, domestic strawberries have superior organoleptic and environmental sustainability qualities, so we need to keep final consumers informed and support these market strategies."
"We must say, however, that these operations alone are not enough to obtain a perfect system: common regulations and policies are needed. Produce from the various European countries - not to mention that from Maghreb - is characterized by an array of different situations. For example, while the GlobalGAP certification is disciplined by precise rules in Italy, it has an entirely different meaning in Morocco due to the socio-economical and political situation. Common parameters are needed so that the produce coming from these nations meets the same requirements of that from Italy, Spain or France."
Contacts: 
Club Candonga Soc. Coop. Cons.
Viale Salerno 13/15
Policoro (MT) 75025, Italia
Tel.:(+39) 0835 1852977
Email: info@candonga.it
Website: candonga.it