The last three months have been characterized by satisfactory commercial results, due to a lack of product and quality, a lot of enthusiasm and skyrocketing prices. Now, a supply that exceeded the capacity to absorb demand and a collapse in consumption led to a fall in fennel prices. Almost all the Italian areas dedicated to fennel are in production (some at the end of the campaign, some at the beginning, some in full harvest).
Only 50% of the volumes show an adequate quality, but this is due to the overlapping of varieties: the earliest ones (delayed because of the fluctuating climate) show a lower quality, while the new fresh product is more attractive.
"The collapse in prices began with other types of vegetables, such as endives, cauliflowers and salads, and then also fennel. This is mainly due to the drop in consumption and consequently has an impact on all production areas. At this moment fennel arrives from the Battipaglia area, from Apulia, from Calabria, which is in the middle of the harvest, from Metapontum. Therefore, the supply is greater than the demand".
"The month of March, in particular, with sunshine and higher temperatures has brought forward the production that was lagging behind, determining the current situation. In Calabria, where there has been a delay in transplantation, higher volumes than normal are being harvested. In Apulia, however, there are some areas that are finishing the harvest and others that have just begun.
In recent months there has been such a saturation of the market because of the poor quality of the vegetable that today consumption is discouraged. "The market is not performing well. Quality is expected to improve in a fortnight's time with the harvesting of a newer product. Today, 50% of the production shows a low level, which is due to the overlapping of the production calendar. Indeed, there are some varieties of fennel whose drop in quality is only physiological.
About the quality and the relative market dynamics: "There are those who bought at high prices or those who, as soon as they felt a drop, began to harvest madly, when the product was not adequately ripe. Today we are experiencing the highlight of the hustle and bustle that will gradually normalize, climate permitting," concludes the operator.
The climate is, in fact, the main factor to keep in mind along with the right hours of light.