Learning about the growing, promotion and commercialization strategies in relation to excellent Italian fruit and vegetable products, particularly pears. This is the objective of the group of fruit growers of the Gaia Fruit Cooperation of Larissa (Greece) – a flat area with a strong pear growing tradition – hosted at Ferrara Fiere by the FuturPera organization, as part of the international Erasmus+ project.
An educational trip that has become a true "Supply chain school" for the Greek delegation, which has had the opportunity to get to know our varieties, growing, harvesting and packaging methods and sales strategies close up. Stefano Calderoni, chairman of Futurpera, Filippo Parisini, chairman and managing director of Ferrara Fiere e Congressi, Antonella D’Agostino, project manager of FuturPera and Dario Rossi from the professional body of agronomists of Ferrara and the organizational staff of FuturPera all took part in the meeting.
"We explained to a group of Greek fruit growers how we produce our pears and talked about the main commercial outlets, the forms of aggregation but also the difficulties that we are encountering in terms of plant diseases and the market", explained Stefano Calderoni.
"It was a really interesting exchange, because it enabled us to compare varieties - in their growing area some particular pears are grown, but also a small amount of Abate, Williams and Coscia – and to speak in practical terms about improving production, also providing some agricultural advice, thanks to the agronomist Dario Rossi, on how to overcome problems which have been more or less eradicated here such as the so-called fireblight or psylla. Fortunately - continued Calderoni - there is no brown marmorated stink bug or brown spot disease in Greece, but there is unfortunately the common problem of difficulties in forming aggregations and breaking even with the market prices paid for pears and our fruit."
Filippo Parisini also expressed his satisfaction for this international exchange project in view of the 2019 edition of FuturPera.
"The main aim of FuturPera has always been to become a crossroads for international meetings, not only to promote exports but also the exchange of mutual knowledge between growing countries. An objective that we have reached with a calendar of very high level conventions and a wide and innovative exposition on offer. The meeting with the delegation of Greek growers is part of the actions that we are implementing for opening up our event as much as possible at European level. We asked this cooperative, which works in a pear growing area exactly like our own, to come to FuturPera as guests to show their varieties and get to know the Italian growers and they are really enthusiastic about this. I believe that our trade fair has impressed them because of its strong specialization and that they have really grasped the fact that our supply chain, despite this year’s crisis, remains an absolutely excellent reference for Italian fruit and vegetables and certainly an example to follow and adapt to other growing contexts."
FuturPera is organized by Ferrara Fiere e Congressi and OI Pera (Interprofessional pear Organisation) in association with CSO Italy, the contribution of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the support of Bper Banca, Generali Italia and VH Italia Assicurazioni.
More information: www.futurpera.com