Consortium generated sales of €350mn with last year’s 400,000-tonne crop, but says new challenges make the next campaign more difficult
Leading Italian apple marketer Melinda says the country’s entire sector faces challenges in the form of new pests, major cost increases, and geopolitical pressures on the international market.
During a meeting to present its 2023/24 season budget, the consortium’s directors said they expected a significant fall in production this season in its home region of Trentino (-7 per cent) as well as neighbouring Alto Adige (-9 per cent), citing Assomela figures.
Last season’s harvest was around 400,000 tonnes, compared with 380,000 in 2022. Based on that crop, the group recorded gross turnover of more than €350mn, and paid around €200mn to its members.
That growth in gross turnover was needed more than ever, it suggested. “The problems that have emerged for some time on a macroeconomic level continue to weigh on the supply chain, requiring particular attention and caution at a system level,” it stated.
Europe, in particular, has experienced a sharp drop in production this year, with spring frosts a major factor in north-east Italy.
“Some critical issues that have already emerged forcefully in recent seasons are also confirmed, including the appearance of new pathogens in the fields, significant increases in costs – of personnel as well as production factors – and, obviously, the persistent geopolitical tension that also impacts global trade and supply chains, as demonstrated, for example, by the Red Sea crisis experienced last May,” the board noted.
General manager Luca Zaglio commmented: “On the commercial front, the year was once again characterised by a contraction in demand from consumers – increasingly selective and aware in their purchasing choices – driven by a medium-term trend.
“The commitment put in place by the system and the organisation for an effective management of the sales campaign has, however, allowed us to best enhance the products.”
Melinda president Ernesto Seppi said the group was satisfied with the results achieved.
“The overall positive outcome of the commercial campaign is the result of great system work that is manifested daily through the professionalism and deep sense of responsibility of all the actors involved.”
But he added a note of caution. “As we have been able to observe this year too, the impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident while the presence of plant diseases remains a serious problem.”