Producers, and often consumers too, have a low opinion of the foreign fruit and vegetables sold by retailers, especially when the local productions are readily available. It's actually a paradox when the produce presents evident signs of the Sharka virus.
Notice the typical colour of fruit affected by Sharka
While fruit affected by Sharka can be eaten normally with no consequence, it shouldn't arrive on supermarket shelves.
Symptoms are evident on these nectarines from Spain
The two photos were taken last week in a store of a famous retail chain in southern Italy. Symptoms are evident on nectarines while it takes an expert eye to identify those on peaches.
"I ask myself how these fruits have ended up on the shelves. We know the disease is endemic, but plants that present symptoms must be taken down immediately. There is no risk for consumers, but it's not fair for Spanish fruit affected by the virus to be sold in Italy at €3/kg," stated Aniello Crescenti, professor at the University of Basilicata.
He added that "checks must be strict along the entire chain and all over the EU. Of course this is an exceptional case where no inspection was carried out."
