Following the annus horribilis of 2023, marked by floods, frosts, and a collapse in conferments, the year 2024 brings Apo Conerpo closer to a return to normal production levels. The organization's main European fruit and vegetable producer, which was unanimously approved yesterday by its members, shows a 34% increase in conferments and a consolidated turnover exceeding 489 million euros (+13%).
Although still affected by geopolitical, climatic, and phytosanitary challenges, these results demonstrate the resilience of the Apo Conerpo group and the effectiveness of its cooperative model, production diversification, professional risk management, and strategic supply chain strengthening.
"The year 2024 finally allowed us to increase production, bringing yields slightly higher than in 2018, which we consider the last normal year before the escalation of climate and phytosanitary issues," explained President Davide Vernocchi. While we cannot speak of an exceptional season, we can speak of laying a foundation on which to build new certainties. We are doing so with a more compact and specialized organization that is increasingly oriented toward providing answers to producers. The true challenge lies in ensuring the continuity of agricultural production. To achieve this, we need active defense, varietal selection, and a systemic vision."
Production and balance sheet data
After deliveries hit an all-time low in 2023 due to dramatic events, the 2024 vintage marked a decisive rebound, beginning with the fresh produce market. Fruit increased by 65%, while vegetables increased by 23%. There were exceptional results for pears (140%) and cherries (160%), both of which were severely affected by adverse weather events in 2023. Other notable increases were seen in apricots (94%), peaches (85%), nectarines (76%), and kiwis (40%).
This growth has also translated into substantial commercial value. A total of €489 million in consolidated turnover was achieved, a 13% increase compared to 2023. Additionally, there was a 12.6% increase in volume, thanks to the positive performance of the horticultural and processing tomato sectors. As Vernocchi points out, "This result captures the excellent work of our Alegra, Brio, Naturitalia, Opera, and Valfrutta Fresco business units, as well as their activity in a market context of reduced consumer affordability."
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"Alongside the growth in turnover, 2024 marks an important step in strengthening our group's assets," said Apo Conerpo's general manager, Daniele Maria Ghezzi. "Over 75% of our resources are now permanently invested in our branches and member cooperatives. The rest are invested in projects that align with our mission. This is a concrete sign of our solidity and strategic vision. Day after day, we are building a structure capable of sustaining our role over time. Our role is to support producers in ensuring operational continuity, profitability, and growth, even in an unstable context like the current one. Capitalization is not an end in itself, but rather a tool to more effectively support the social base."
In support of producers
"Now is not the time to rest on our laurels. We must continue to work with tenacity in this highly challenging environment," says Vernocchi. "Consider the spread of increasingly aggressive plant diseases such as brown spot, Sharka virus, kiwifruit bacterial canker, and Glomerella. Consider the growing pressure from the brown marmorated stink bug. Consider the mounting difficulties in crop protection due to the continued restriction of available active substances. On top of all this, energy, logistics, and material costs are increasing. The distribution system is under pressure due to residue requirements, which often put European producers at a disadvantage.
"In a context where the fruit and vegetable sector is tasked with producing more with fewer resources in increasingly unstable conditions and with an insurance framework that is unable to provide certainty, it is crucial to provide our producers with adequate protection tools and opportunities for the future," explained Daniele M. Ghezzi, the PO's general director. Last year, the CMC 2020 mutualization fund against Asian citrus psyllid damage was refinanced, bringing its total endowment to over one million euros. This fund is a concrete tool designed to provide rapid support to affected companies. At the same time, significant progress has been made in collaboration with the Emilia-Romagna government to install active defense systems.
"In this challenging framework, research is a decisive strategic tool. Our commitment to this area is stronger than ever. Together with our reference producer organization, F.In.A.F., we have allocated over €10 million in investments by 2029. These investments will focus on integrated pest management, environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, and varietal innovation," Ghezzi concluded. This commitment spans all sectors and has one clear objective: to provide the necessary tools and knowledge to meaningfully impact the economic and environmental sustainability of agricultural enterprises. This is why we will continue to invest, innovate, and establish robust supply chains capable of facing the future with determination.
Photos provided by the Apo Conerpo Press Office