The retail trade of fruits and vegetables has always considered the festive period an occasion to increase sales, especially in a time when the consumption of fresh produce is decreasing due to the cost-of-living crisis. The increase concerns almost all products, including potatoes, the campaign of which has been characterized by the weird weather right from the start.
Pallets leaving for wholesale markets
Giancarlo Di Pasquale, owner of an agricultural business growing four potato varieties at 750 meters asl, explains that "after the acceptable results of November, a month that is usually slow, we are waiting for the best part of the year, i.e. the Christmas period. While, during the past campaign, we complained because sales prices were too high, this year they are even higher and operators are not always willing to accept the increases, which we consider to be reasonable. Quantities are unfortunately lower this year, there have been drops of as much as 50% in various areas, on top of an increase in waste due to the downy mildew caused by the unfavorable weather. The festive period thus becomes an opportunity to increase our bargaining power as, during those two lively weeks, people care more about delivery times and about guaranteeing larger quantities, rather than about quotations. The current campaign, which started one month late, is proceeding well but, had we had larger volumes, we would have found it difficult to place the produce."
Azienda agricola Di Pasquale sends the potatoes it packages in its own warehouse to wholesale markets and to the Italian H&R channel. "We sell in the main Italian cities such as Rome, Florence and Milan, as well as to dozens of restaurants. As for the latter, we register an increase in supplies not below 20% already starting from early December."
For further information:
Patata di Avezzano
Via Galeone, 28
67051 Avezzano (AQ)
+39 3382034414 - 3333645549
[email protected]
patatadiavezzano.com
facebook.com/patatadiavezzano