"Italy: "Possible lack of cauliflower in Europe because of bad weather"

C.O.P.A, Ortofrutticola Associate Producers Cooperative, was founded in 1976 in the Italian region of Lazio. More than half of the surface is planted with asparagus, while the remainder is devoted to the cultivation of melon, watermelon, tomatoes, zucchini, potato, artichoke, cauliflower, fennel, strawberry, pepper and eggplant.

Giancarlo Benella, director of the Cooperative COPA, highlights the seasonal trend of cauliflower.

"The transplants from the middle of August through September 2012, were favored by warm weather. Then, however, the continuation of high temperatures during the Autumn anticipated production cycles and crops. Especially for early varieties it led to quick end of their production cycle "

Despite this, there has been no surplus of supply. The area sown with cauliflower at Italian national level seems to be much lower, this year. It can therefore be expected, as a result of lowering temperatures, a slight increase in prices associated with a recovery in consumption.

The Italian product, in fact, may find more opportunities in Europe given a general lack of product due to the bad weather that hit some producing countries in recent months.

The main sales channels for the Cooperative COPA are the big retail chains. "We were able to be present for a few years on the market throughout the period of greatest consumption of cauliflower, which runs from October to March," says the director.

Contacts:
Giancarlo Benella
C.O.P.A. Cooperativa Ortofrutticola Produttori Associati
Phone: +39 0761 438207
Fax: +39 0761 437458
Email: info@copacanino.it
Web: www.copacanino.it