Italy: Few Purple artichokes available
Giuseppe Cupane, President of the Sicilian Coop "Violetto Ramacchese", specialized in artichoke production in Ramacca (Catania - Sicily - Italy) and director of producers' organization "Rossa di Sicilia", said "There has been an unusual campaign for the purple artichoke, with few available and, at Christmas, wholesale prices shot up as high as € 0.80/piece."
The purple variety "Violetto" is the flagship product of the Cooperative and is sold from November to April, in two cycles (one that ends around February 15, and the other starting from March 1st).
"We had very high temperatures in the summer - continues Cupane - that made the first cuts atrophied in November. Initially there have been quality issues: the artichokes were cut and left on the ground, as unmarketable. Then in the meantime, the cold came and wholesale prices for the marketable product rose sharply."
Compared to last year, the product was intended entirely for the Italian market, with the right quality to meet expectations. "The little available product has been completely absorbed by the national market," says the president of the Cooperative. "We still have a few Violetto available. We allocate the best to our customers, always nationally. The wholesale price has stabilized at about 0.50 euro per piece."
Artichokes are being packaged in 25 pieces boxes for the "Violetto" variety or 16 pieces boxes for the "Romanesco" one.
Regarding the outlook for the varieties "Romanesco C3" and "Apollo", there is a slight delay in the production areas in the Plain of Catania. "At the moment the volumes are very limited, but in ten days we should return to production and meet the supply in the national market."
"This year we will try to sell even on the Swiss market, which seems to offer more satisfaction. The French market, in recent years, has failed to satisfy. In Italy, however, we are satisfied," continues Cupane. "We achieve 0.80 to 0.85 euro per piece (wholesale prices), managing to reward the associate growers with 0.60 to 0.70 euro per piece. High prices, but they won't last long, just until the moment the offer would increase."
About a possible foreign competition, the president is concerned by the potential entry of the Egyptian or Tunisian products. In fact the prices have decreased, losing at least € 0.30 right away. "The problem is always the same: it's foreign product, but illegally nationalized, so distorting the market."
In conclusion Cupane says, "Months ago, we announced a project in collaboration with the Region of Sicily and the University of Catania, a new method of conservation of the artichokes after harvest, through sanitation with ozone. Well, we are now realizing the benefits of this treatment. We are satisfied and sure we will make a good campaign and we will continue with this process for the varieties Apollo and Romanesco C3."
Contacts:
Giuseppe Cupane
Mob.: +39 3357790925
Fax: +39 (0)957 931341
[email protected]
[email protected]
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www.rossadisicilia.it / www.carciofiamo.it
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