After about two weeks of harvesting and selling the first Italian clementines, some are analyzing and drawing up the first balance sheets regarding the beginning of the citrus campaign. Despite the mild weather during October 2022, orders remain brisk, but quotations seem to be insufficient to cover production and processing costs.
"In our plant we are working at a fast pace, because the orders from the Italian and European large-scale retail chains and markets are high, but the problem is that the initial prices are not satisfactory and such as to be able to cover all the expenses, which are now constantly increasing. In fact, quotations are the same as in 2021, even perhaps we have a few cents less than in the previous season, but with doubled expenses," says Luca Zuccarella, sales manager of OP Zuccarella cooperative, a well-known business in Scanzano Jonico (Matera) that markets citrus and strawberries for much of the year.
"Victimization is not a tactic we've ever liked, but this, unfortunately, is pure reality," continues the manager. "Among the costs that affect our budgets the most are fuel oil, fertilizers, and energy and packaging price increases. At the beginning of the season, we believed that operators could understand the sacrifices of companies in this particular historical period, but it seems that this is not happening. There are those who continue to ask for promotions and discounts."
At the moment, the company is selling clementines of the Clemenruby cultivar, but the varieties list is extensive. "We are supplying in France, Germany and the Netherlands. The quality of the goods is excellent, in terms of size and flavor. These are citrus fruits from Calabria and Basilicata, but we are waiting to start, in about 20 days, also with Apulian clementines, such as Caffin, Orogros, Spinoso, Corsica 2 and Comune," concluded Zuccarella.
