The prices of artichokes from Puglia started dropping in early February and continue to do so. Quotations have halved due to overproduction and the subsequent slowdown in sales, which was then made worse by the considerable imports of produce from North Africa.
"Temperatures hovered between 15 and 20°C throughout February, generating excessive production and therefore lower prices. Things were made worse by the produce from Tunisia and Egypt, which is still reaching our country at very low prices. I am selling my heads (Madrigal variety) at €0.15/piece compared to the €0.30 of mid-February," reports Leonardo Cedola, an entrepreneur from the Foggia province.
As there was practically no winter at climatic level, artichoke crops continued to produce. "We are currently harvesting heads as if we were well into April, so much so that we have to send produce to the processing industry, although prices at the moment hover around €0.10/head. We started sending artichokes to the processing industry, which are placed in jars under oil or sliced into four, over one month early. The consequence of this is of course falling profits. However, at least we have two chances of a making sale: the fresh and processed produce channels. We are currently harvesting around 15 thousand artichokes per hectare."