Here we go again, just like every year. In the past few days, various irregular shipments of kiwis coming from different Italian regions and destined to Spain, France and the US were reported. And it's useless to talk about early cultivars, as most of the times they are Hayward kiwis that have been harvested far too early with respect to what had been established and without respecting the parameters (Brix level and firmness) required by law.
"The main points concern a higher Brix level, the firmness of fruits depending on destinations and harvesting dates and high quality sales."
"We must stress though that in the EU the Commission Implementing Regulation no. 543/2011 in force, marketing standards and the minimum kiwi ripening characteristics are established."
That is to say, "the fruit at packing must have attained a degree of ripeness of at least 6,2° Brix or an average dry matter content of 15%, which should lead to 9,5° Brix when entering the distribution chain."
"Article II of the Interprofessional agreement is about the harvesting phase and is just as clear. Kiwi produced in Italy must have a degree of ripeness of at least 6.5° Brix and a minimum firmness of 6.5 kg/cm2 measured with a manual penetrometer with a 8 mm plunger. Hayward cultivars can be harvested from 14th October 2013. The Brix level and the firmness are the minimum parameters also for later harvests."
Those doing things differently, therefore, violate both national and Community regulations.
Not only that - Fabbri reminds how article III established that retail selling of the Hayward variety can start on 8th November 2013 with fruits that have a minimum of 10° Brix and a firmness between 2 and 3.5 kg/cm2 (1 kg tolerance). Finally, article IV specifies that shipments overseas can only start from 29th October 2013 and only for fruits with 6,5° Brix and firmness between 3 and 5 kg/cm2.
The sole exception is for other early cultivars. In this case, it is possible to harvest and market before the set dates after communicating it to Ortofrutta Italia and Agecontrol, the public agency for checks and Community action, although they must comply with minimum parameters too.
"Not all companies cultivating early varieties did that. Anyway, systematic checks are underway and concern at least 10% of stocks. In addition, each operator is checked at least twice every three years to verify the requisites. Agecontrol also checks on the origin of the product."
One last aspect. This year, the Chilean kiwi production will definitely be smaller due to freeze. It would be ideal for the Italian produce to hold on until May - when the produce from Chile won't be available - with the best characteristics. These unfair practices, however, damage both the image and the post-storing quality of fruits. Is it worth it?