Italy: Only domestic grapes on the market in ten days' time

"If before the Russian ban the expectations for table grapes were rather good, the situation has now changed. The produce that was destined to Russia will be directed towards other countries, which in turn will lower the prices to try and push sales. The Red Globe is the variety most affected by this situation at the moment, as it was the favourite on the Russian market," explains Lorenzo Diomede, owner of Azienda Agricola Lo. Di.. "Many operators and institutions underestimate the problem, but I believe the situation is far worse than what institutes of statistics say, as they do not count indirect export, i.e. the produce that passes through Netherlands, Lithuania, Belarus and Poland before reaching Russia."

Since the ban, the company has been exporting to France, Spain, Belgium, Poland and Germany through Apoc Salerno.

Seedless grapes are doing well at the moment "thanks to the lower quantities available in Europe. Prices have therefore increased by 30-40%. As for gapes with seeds, it all depends on the quality - extra quality produce is doing really well, but the prices of standard grapes are not very good."

As regards yields, Lorenzo talks about a 30% drop: "currently the foreign produce has almost finished, we will only have domestic produce in ten days' time."

After the recent bad weather, there have been some cracking problems, but it is just a few cases.

As regards the possible early end of the Italian table grape campaign, the owner says that "we have stopped trying to predict stuff. I can say that quantities are lower, but if there are less orders, we might finish in January anyway, it all depends on demand."

"The grapes destined for wine-making in only the part affected by downy mildew or cracking, nothing more," concludes Lorenzo.

Contacts:
Lorenzo Diomede - Owner
Az. Agricola Lo.Di.
S.P. 240 Km. 14 Zona Industriale
70018 Rutigliano (BA)
Tel.: +39 080 4767326
Cell.: +39 340 2203352 (English)
Cell.2: +39 3312227114 (English)
Fax: +39 080 4778175
Email: info@agrilodi.com
Web: www.agrilodi.com
Skype: agrilodi

Rosario Ferrara - Coordinator
APOC SALERNO
Via R. Wagner K1 (P.co Arbostella)
84131 Salerno
Tel.: +39 (0)89 331758
Cell.: +39 331 2663528
Email: ferrara@apocsalerno.it
Web: www.apocsalerno.it