The artichoke season has never been lively this year, but there have been improvements over the past few days, with some encouraging signs regarding consumption.
"The combined effect of the one-month delay in production, the drop in yields, and the general reduction in Italian crops, together with the problems faced by farmers due to the unrelenting drought that led to an increase in production costs, has led to an escalation in artichoke prices in the previous months, with negative repercussions on consumption, which has turned towards cheaper items," reported Ermanno Barletta of Biemme Srl, a company based in the Lecce province that supplies fruits and vegetables to the Italian markets and boasts around 120 hectares of artichoke crops (owned by the company and other producers).
"Quotations so far have had a knock-on effect on consumption, causing a significant drop in purchases. However, now that the volumes in the field have grown by 20-30% compared to a month ago, and that prices have come down (from €0.50-0.60 to €0.35-0.40/head for quality produce), we are noticing a better trend, a commercial liveliness that we believe will grow over the next two weeks, when the massive imports of goods from Egypt and Tunisia should cease."
Biemme Srl is supplying artichokes to several Italian markets, as well as Germany and Switzerland. "We process about 13,000 heads a day. At the moment, we are reserving 1600 per facility. We are registering frequent deliveries to Milan, Padua, Verona, Rimini, Rome and markets in Apulia. We believe we will continue at least until the end of the Easter period."
For more information:
Biemme Srl
Via duca di Genova 11
73044 Galatone LE
+39 329 732 8920
[email protected]
biemme-srl.it
