Demand for fennel is high, but this is primarily due to a shortage of the product rather than an actual increase in consumption. Gennaro and Ciro Paolillo, the founders of Paolillo, an Italian company that specializes in fennel in the Campania region, explain that the current situation is a direct result of recent weather conditions.
© Paolillo s.r.l.
"The weather trend has definitely had an impact. September yielded poor results, and October hasn't been any better," says Gennaro Paolillo, the production manager. "The dry summer has left its mark. We have confirmed that September is the most complicated month to manage. The beginning of October brought cold mornings and even some frost. This slowed down plant growth and reduced availability even more.
The consequences are obvious. There is a reduction in the product on the market, with batches of mixed quality. Not every batch of fennel is ideal, but considering the difficulties, we are satisfied with our harvest. While certain batches meet our expectations, others are adversely affected by meteorological instability. "Overall, the main issue is quantity," adds Paolillo.
© Paolillo s.r.l.
Currently, the supply is concentrated in the Fucino plain (Abruzzo), the heart of the campaign. "We are still there," Paolillo confirms, "and we will be for at least the next twenty days." A few small, parallel plots have emerged between Emilia-Romagna and Apulia, but the quantities are minimal. For now, most of the supply is coming from Fucino.
Steady demand across all distribution channels
"From a sales perspective, there is movement, and demand is steady," explains Ciro Paolillo, the company's sales manager. "However, this is precisely because the quantities are limited. Retail consumption remains in line with previous years, although it continues to be impacted by consistently high prices for consumers."
"Currently, fennel is in demand across all channels, and we are struggling to fulfill all orders. There are no innovations in packaging or types of packaging. The real difference lies in the shortage in the fields, which inevitably drives demand." According to Paolillo, this scenario is not entirely new: "Last year at this time, fennel was also in demand due to abnormal weather conditions. Ultimately, it's the weather that has the final say."
Despite the challenges, the company is pleased with the results of the campaign thus far. "The situation is not simple," the Paolillo brothers concluded. "The most evident issue is the reduced availability, which will need to be monitored in the coming weeks."
For more information:
Paolillo s.r.l.
Via Stabia, 254
80057 Naples - Italy
Tel: +39 393 9361160
Fax: +39 081 8738791
www.paolillosrl.com
www.buonoinognimomento.it