Optimism for the strawberry industry
FJ
The very positive data on the consumption of strawberries provides some optimism for the sector.
According to the latest data, strawberry consumption in Italy increased by 4% in 2014 compared to the previous year. Also the expansion of the commercial calendar and improvement of available varieties give hope that the Italians will continue this year to increase their purchases of strawberries.
Yet nationally , strawberries crops decreased covering 3,570 hectares this year, an area roughly similar to that of 2011.In the south , the area fell in Calabria (-20%) and Sicily (-5%) but not in Basilicata ( + 9%). In the north, also fall in Emilia Romagna (-6%) , in the provinces of Bolzano ( -12%) and Trento (-5%) but not in the Piedmont (+ 13%).
source : cso servizi com, ansa it