The Italian fruit and vegetable industry

“Macfrut has been playing a key role over the last 25 years in highlighting and analyzing the changes and novelties taking place in Italy’s fruit and vegetable industry”, outlined Domenico Scarpellini, chairman of the organizer Cesena Fiera. The trade exhibition was in fact again the occasion to examine the state-of-the-art of fruit and vegetable production and trade of Italy, which is one of the leading Countries worldwide with an overall production of 23.8 million tons in 2007 (14.6 vegetables, 5.9 fruit and 3.4 citrus fruit), a turnover of 22.8 billion euros (+1.1% compared to 2006) and more than 3.7 million tons of exports.
If production from one side decreases (-2.8% compared to 2006 volumes), on the other side exports improve, both in volumes (+5.3% compared to 2006) and in value (accounting for 3.2 billion euros, +7.9% compared to 2006). Total imports were 2,811,288 tons (+1.4% compared to 2006), accounting for an expenditure abroad of 2.3 billion euros (-1.1% compared to 2006).
The positive trade balance (that is fruit and vegetable industry´s export exceeding import) shows that Italian trade balance has been positive for many years now.
Generally speaking, it has been a positive year for the fruit and vegetable industry even for what consumptions are concerned. In 2007, Italian families purchased 8,236,000 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables, that is +0.58% compared to 2006, and they spent 12.6 billion euros (+3.27% compared to 12.2 in 2006).