Recently, the demand for strawberries has decreased, but the slowdown, fortunately, has not been the same in all sales channels. "If in the Italian general retail markets the orders are low, in the large-scale retail trade things seem to be going better, despite the fact that the circumstances are not exactly positive, due to the greater propensity to make savings, generated above all by the war in Ukraine and the increase in prices of all products, food and non-food," said Maria Faillace of OP Zuccarella says from Metapontino.
Maria Faillace (Quality Control Manageress)
"The orders of the 10 brands that we supplied, have been almost constant in this last period, compared to the decrease, even in double digits, recorded in many markets of the central-northern part of Italy. However, the greatest satisfaction in terms of requested volumes comes from foreign countries, where in these days we are witnessing an increase in requests, especially from Germany, France and the Netherlands".
OP Zuccarella processing lines
"Every day we ship a total of about 80 pallets of strawberries, more than 60% of which are marketed in the above-mentioned European countries, both in general markets and in large-scale retail chains. With regard to processing, we offer different packaging, which can be identified in terms of weight and material used. For example, supermarkets are supplied with plastic or cardboard trays of 250, 300 g (single-layer), 400, 500 g (single-layer) and 1 kg, while markets are supplied with 500 g trays in cardboard or wood pulp".
"Spring just doesn't seem to want to arrive this year. The current temperatures do not yet allow for a fast coloration of the fruit and consequently for an increase in the number of harvests, but given the current uncertain commercial trend, it is perhaps for the best. Price increases are being felt, while quotations are lower than in 2021. We ask customers and all operators to understand our difficulties and to avoid asking for further discounts."
For more information:
OP Zuccarella Soc. Coop. Agr.
Via Parisi, 16 - Scanzano Jonico (MT)
+39 0835 418009
info@opzuccarella.it
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