"Foreign products competing with ours are New Zealand kiwifruit, Chilean and Greek fruit. This is offered at very low prices. Our product is sold mainly at markets in Fondi, Roma, Padova and Salerno, with an annual production of about 100 tons" Antonio concludes.
The producer Piero says to FreshPlaza: "I do not know a lot about marketing trend, I sold my products to a trader for EUR 0.20 per kilo with settlement in June, without a guaranteed minimum. I could say that the trend is discouraging, but I think the price is bad in general. Other producers are in the same condition. Only in Veneto region the price reached EUR 0.50-0.55 per kilo."
"The ratio between demand and supply is directly related and everything is linked to estimate of national production. This year a 15% higher yield compared to demand was expected. Is it true considering the PSA outbreak and hail that affected several regions? For this reason, along with Italian and European economical crisis, there are not market prices. Last year I got EUR 0.60 per kilo, a quite sufficient price to continue my work. This year certainly I cannot get it" Piero continues.
"As for the climate, given the snow and frost here in Abruzzo region, I do not think I have reported damages."
"As previous years I have given my produce to a cooperative and sold to traders, but the situation is unchanged; the cooperative can protect you up to a point. My company is small and it is a family company with an average production of 30 tons per year" Piero concludes.