In recent weeks, a series of anomalous climatic conditions have occurred in Italy which, in addition to causing considerable damage to crops, have reduced the normal consumption of typically summer fruit.
"We started to market the first early apricots about ten days ago, but a number of factors have negatively impacted on the marketing of summer products," declared Antonio Ferrara, a member of "FE.VI Frutta", a fruit and vegetable wholesale business located in Policoro (Matera).
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"Compared to previous years, where quality was poorer and sales were negative, we would have expected a commercially more positive year. Instead, it seems that the current data is not very reassuring and could jeopardize the whole campaign of early fruit varieties. In the northern regions, temperatures are not very summer-like and this causes a negative effect on the consumption of apricots, peaches and nectarines. The fruit and vegetable markets, which initially had reduced, or in some cases removed products such as apples and pears, have now requested to increase the quantity of these types of fruit".
"Inevitably, there is an impact on sales prices. In fact, within a few days, the prices of apricots have skyrocketed from € 3 / kg to just € 1 / kg. We are marketing about 10 tons of Mogador (apricots) per day".
"As far as nectarines are concerned, it seems that the situation in terms of sales is going slightly better: they are currently sold at € 1.80 / € 1.50 per kg compared to last year's average of € 2.00 / € 2.20 per kg . With regard to peaches, we started a few days ago with the marketing of the Sagittaria variety, but even in this case, the caliber is lower compared to the previous years".
"Furthermore, the recent violent hailstorms have compromised over 2/3 of the stone fruit cultivation. As it stands, the product is currently not really marketable. In this regard, the processing industry has shown its interest, proposing prices of a few cents per kg".
Contact: 
FE.VI.FRUTTA S.R.L.
Via Bellini,10
75025 POLICORO (MT)
Tel.: (+39) 0835/981256
Web: fevifrutta.it