Italy: Good quality fennel is only recognised abroad

"We have just ended the Roman fennel campaign without much enthusiasm, I must say. We are now starting to sell produce from Foggia abroad, hoping that the market will be more lively," says Marco Babbi, sales representative and owner of Caligari & Babbi together with Vittorio Caligari (in the photo below), technical manager.

Left to right, Marco Babbi and Vittorio Caligari.

"The situation is pretty much stalling in Italy, whereas we are thinking of expanding abroad. In fact, foreign countries are starting to appreciate and demand fennel."

"The feedback is always good abroad when you supply a high quality product, even though it is a difficult period for everyone. Because of a warm autumn and of the overlap in production, we have to cover the costs and keep the company going."

Caligari & Babbi has a 600 sq m processing warehouse with a number of cold storage units. Its relationship with commercial companies (for a total of 250 ha) is steady, meaning that they can cultivate and sell this product the whole year round: vegetables from Fucino in summer, from Puglia in winter and from Basilicata and Calabria in spring and autumn.

The main clients are wholesalers and national markets, although 30% of the produce is exported to Switzerland, France and The Netherlands.

Caligari & Babbi can package fennel according to the needs of the clients, in Ifco packets (18-20 units, 6 kg) and wooden crates (12-14 units, 5 kg) for the foreign market as well as black 8-10 unit crates for Italy.

"Provided there are no freezes, the produce from Foggia should last until Christmas, and then the produce from the Metaponto area should be available from early January. The problem is that consumption is decreasing and it does not seem to be improving."

Contacts:
Caligari & Babbi srl
Via E. Bevilacqua 17
Savignano su Rubicone (FC)
Tel.: (+39) 0541 942599
Fax: (+39) 0541 201919
Email: info@ortofruttacaligari.com