Despite slight frost and hail, the apple orchards in Northern Italy have overall fared well through the blossoming season, while this year's marketing season is in its final stages. "Significant weather damage is being expected only in the Melinda region, although precise figures are not yet available. As for the current marketing season, the stock reduction for red and bi-colored apples is nearing completion. For Gala and Red Delicious, the stocks are almost cleared, and for Golden, we are currently seeing good sales at moderate prices. Here, we might even be able to serve the markets into October, thus ensuring a smooth transition to the new harvest," summarizes Michael Sparer, a fruit broker based in Vilpian (South Tyrol).
This year's marketing season has been characterized by multiple challenges, according to Sparer, who serves both the Italian domestic market and numerous export markets. "Red Delicious, for example, is exported in packed form overseas, including to Latin America, India, and the Middle East. Due to the issues in the Suez Canal, exports to India, in particular, have significantly decreased. Economic problems and resulting import restrictions have also made exports to Egypt more difficult, although there has recently been a first easing of measures. Although we do not serve these markets ourselves, Latin America seems to be drawing a bit more volume this year."
Michael Sparer is a fruit broker and exporter based in South Tyrol.
Demand in the Italian domestic market was particularly high in the first half of the season, continues Sparer. "Until January, demand in Southern Italy, where we have many customers, was particularly high. In the following months, marketing continued at a normal level. Due to the increased presence of summer fruits, especially stone fruits and melons, demand has been declining since the beginning of May. However, this is an annual, seasonal decrease in demand, which usually only lasts until mid to late June. Specifically, for Red Delicious, there have recently been quality-related discounts in the domestic market. This is due to the fact that there were slightly more inferior batches, resulting in a lower net output."
Decrease in purchasing power shapes apple market
In addition to the standard apple varieties, club apples are increasingly coming to the forefront during the summer months. Sparer: "The Envy variety is gaining popularity in the Southern European region. Crimson Snow is also clearly trending, both inside and outside Europe. In general, we observe that the variety of apples is increasingly expanding. This leads to the shelf space per individual variety becoming ever smaller. At the same time, we are witnessing a significant decrease in purchasing power, not only in Italy but also abroad. People are generally more mindful of their spending, which in turn leads to less purchasing of the higher-priced club apples. This inevitably results in a decrease in overall consumption. The situation is exacerbated by the sharply increased production and logistics costs, under which the entire apple industry has suffered and continues to suffer."
Images: Sparer Fruit Brokerage
For more information:
Michael Sparer
Sparer Fruit Brokerage
Nalser Straße 6
39018 Vilpian (BZ)
Tel. +39 0471 678 725
Fax +39 0471 678 526
Email: [email protected]
www.sparersparer.net