As for every produce variety, garlic too is influenced by global market dynamics. Unfortunately, Italian garlic production does not suffice to satisfy the internal demand, even though the Italian tradition regarding garlic farming is the best compared to everyone else’s.
The delegation in Spain
On the 15th January 2019, delegations from Italy, Spain and France met in Las Pedroneras for the international product meeting. For Italy, Delfanti, Emanuele Coletti and Giorgio Marini form Unaproa, and Marco Cerreto Of Mipaaf participated in the meeting.
Delfanti stated, “Prices have been slightly improving for the last weeks, therefore we are quite optimistic regarding the continuation of the 2018/19 campaign and the beginning of the next one. However, the last two years were quite negative, whereas the previous two were the best in terms of marketing. Thing is, when there is more product coming from China or Argentina, for instance, prices hardly can be acceptable for countries like ours, where the production costs and the quality consequently are higher”.
Italy produces less than it consumes: 80% of imported garlic comes from Spain. Italian customers are willing to spend more for Italian produce, but they need more information in order for the supply chain to promote the garlic and to allow the producers to get the deserved income”.
Data on production are impressive. In 2018, Spain produced 271.000 tons, Italy 31.000 and France 18.000. With regards to the expectations for the next campaign, the Spanish delegation raised more concerns than the others. The Fruitimprese spokesperson said, “In Spain, the sowing should go down by 10%, whereas in Italy it is increasing by 5%. Sowing should increase in France as well, although it will not be more than 2%”.