"The price of grapes is high, between 2 and 1.50 Euro for the producer; however, if we take into account the cost of infrastructure, the limited weight per plant, labour, etc., it is a fair price," assures Calogero Montana, manager of the company Puech Montana Italia. At the moment, the price per kilo in the markets is 4.50 Euro, which Montana considers acceptable. "We must take into account that, with the high temperatures, we must hire more labourers to harvest the grapes faster and prevent them from being damaged; also, the transport to the warehouse, the boxes and the delivery to the stores all contribute to the price increasing," adds Montana.
Today, prices are similar to those recorded last year at this time, around 3.50 Euro. There have been no significant variations. Worth noting is the maximum price reached last year: 5 Euro per kilo, compared to the 2 Euro paid at the end of the campaign. "It is common knowledge that, as the campaign develops, the price gradually falls; it is something that we have to accept," explains Montana.
As far as the destinations for the grapes are concerned, the most noteworthy are the Arab countries, the UK, Finland or Denmark, and they must compete against the production from Greece in July and the seedless grapes from Spain and Portugal.
For more information:
Calogero Montana
Puech Montana Italia
Tel.: + 39 0933 28329
