While Spain reduced the quotas destined for the winter cultivation of tomatoes in favour of other crops and increased them for the summer harvest, and while Morocco remains among Italy's main competitors, Turkey is increasingly making itself heard on the Mediterranean basin's landscape. Italy's most interesting market continues to be Germany, which confirms itself as the leading destination for Italian tomato exports.
Stefano Italiano, president of OP Agro Verde from Gela (CL), examines the situation. In describing his own production and commercial reality, he outlines the features of Sicilian horticulture that is changing, yet not too much.
Stefano Italiano
"Our PO was recognised in 2001 and originates from a cooperative founded in 1994. Over the years, we have indeed experienced exceptional moments, both economically and in terms of production. Today, Agro Verde brings together 25 producer members and has reached a size of 40 hectares of greenhouses. We have grown, but not everything is going well: the commercial difficulties caused by the new international structures have to some extent hindered Sicily's exports to foreign countries, and this affects turnover."
"As far as foreign markets are concerned, Germany has always been a favourable destination, while France has become much less interesting for Italy, as it is also supplied by Spanish and Moroccan goods, in addition to having a fair amount of domestic production. In recent years, we have also learnt not to underestimate Turkey, which is playing a significant role. After all, the overwhelming majority of fruit and vegetable operators in Germany are Turks, so I would be surprised if they did not favour goods from their home country, instead of those from Italy or some other country."
"The fact is that we find ourselves exporting smaller volumes than in the past. When it comes to our experience, we have noticed a drop of at least 20% over the past five years, which is why we have focused more on the domestic market, where we are still doing well. Italian destinations cover the whole country, starting in Puglia and ending in Valle d'Aosta. I am referring to the markets of Turin, Genoa, Milan, Padua, Verona, Bologna, both wholesale and big retail trade."
"The vast majority of volumes are focused on the midi plum segment. We are talking about the Piccadilly and Pixel varieties, although date and cherry tomatoes still have enormous appeal. The switch to midi plum was partly due to cultivation problems with large berry tomatoes due to Tomato Brown, a virus that caused several companies to close down. To be more precise, let's say that, out of the total volumes we market, which can be quantified at around 10 thousand tonnes per year, the production of smooth round tomatoes is limited to around 5%, while there is a 55% prevalence of midi plum and then the remainder is divided equally between cherry and date tomatoes. The decision to favour tomatoes as a species, as opposed to other horticultural crops, is due to the quality of the water available: our brackish waters are, in fact, better suited to breeding tomatoes with great organoleptic qualities, something we could not achieve with aubergines or peppers."
"In addition to the changes that have characterised the sector over the past five years, we must add that the profession has changed a lot. There have been significant transformations, and one of the main current concerns is the need for a generational change. We must somehow attract young people to the agricultural production world. Greenhouse cultivation can still give a lot, while the lack of labour has become an emergency that risks depleting agro-economic assets built up laboriously over decades, leaving more and more space for the production of emerging nations."
OP Agro Verde is also oriented towards experimentation and innovation. The organisation supports its member companies in research and innovation, promoting projects that have a positive impact on the territory in terms of carbon reduction and environmental impact reduction. A specific objective is to improve the carbon footprint of plants through the controlled administration of CO2, in order to obtain more resistant plants and improve photosynthetic efficiency. The aim is also to remove CO2 from depleted oil wells to prevent its release into the atmosphere and, at the same time, promote plant growth.
For more information:
Op Agro Verde
Stefano Italiano
Contrada Piana del Signore - SS115 
93012 Gela (CL) - Italy
+39 340 5830671
+39 0933917523
[email protected]
www.agroverde.it