How's the pear sector doing? Average prices will be higher than last year, but average quality will not be as good. The gross saleable production will be higher than 2015/16, but still below the sustainability threshold.
When we say "below the sustainability threshold", we are referring to budgets that keep into consideration producer remuneration, repayments, provisions, etc.
A potential risk would be that of seeing 70% pear producer companies disappear over the next 10 years, especially if it's true that, currently, only 30% of them can survive on the market with margins that cover both costs and investments.
The only way to survive would be to sell at a higher price, but a better organisation would be needed. Consumers appreciate the Italian produce, but only if the foreign one doesn't cost less.
Who are the clients for Italian pears?
Another issue is: where to sell all our pears? In theory, it would be easy to sell where there are no pears, i.e. in some regions of Asia. But will Eastern countries appreciate our pears, which are typically russeted? The answer is no.
Where else could they be exported then? The Chinese market is still closed, the US one is closed as well, as is Russia. Others don't like pears with russeting...it's not easy to find new outlets.
As regards varietal innovation, the pear sector is not very responsive. Red pears might have a bright future, as consumers are attracted by the colour red, but it's not easy to find varieties that are better than others.
Italian agriculture has a level of efficiency equal to countries with production costs that are 30% lower, yet its production costs are equal to countries with a superior efficiency. If things don't change, it will be very difficult to remain on the market.
