For the last few days, more and more Argentine pears have been appearing in Italian wholesale markets. In March, the import of these pears was expensive, but in April the customs authorities granted them easy access and, for this reason, the Argentine crop is now more present.
At the Verona market, Argentine Williams pears had a price of 1.40 €/kg on 12 April. This has since risen to €1.75 per kilo. However, sales are slow, and they tend to ripen too quickly.
Nevertheless, there are still Italian pears available and, if treated properly, they are of excellent quality. Abate pears from Emilia Romagna had a price ranging between €1.00 and €2.20 per kilo on 14 April at the Cesena market, depending on their quality and size. However, some batches are also showing quality defects at a national scale.
"The problem is that we need a shift in mentality, an alliance between growers and the large-scale retail trade. We need to be able to deliver to consumers a crop that is almost ready for consumption. Oftentimes, once they arrive home, pears have to be stored in the pantry for another 7 days before they are edible."