"Exotic fruit is maybe the one area that paid the highest price of the pandemic, as the fluctuating market was accompanied by fluctuating quotations. Luckily, in the past few months, demand increased thanks to the H&R channel, which absorbs large quantities directly from traditional markets, so consumption is picking up. The market is definitely livelier, but we are still not registering the numbers we had before the pandemic," reports Roberto Paraggio from P & B in Fondi (Latina).
"Compared to a couple of years ago, exotic fruit is used more, so much so that people purchase even the smaller grades and Italian retailers want to buy the produce at a good price. Avocados are doing particularly well: northern Italy is the leading consumer, although they are getting more popular in the south as well. Organic bananas are much appreciated all over the peninsula, with quotations that are 40% higher than those of traditional bananas," explains Angelo Balletta from Bc Ortofrutta in Montesarchio (Benevento).
"Avocados are increasingly appreciated by consumers, who require fruits that are riper and ready to eat. The most popular varieties are Pinkerton (classic green avocados) and Hass (with a more homogeneous ripening).The Pinkerton season is coming to an end in South Africa, then it will be the turn of other cultivars. There were no particular logistic problems, but there are some procurement problems as the pandemic hits the various production areas," concludes Paraggio.