“In Italy, out of 100 euros spent by the consumer for fresh fruit and vegetables to the producer, only between 6 and 8 euros net remain in his pocket. Even less so in the case of processed products, where the farmer’s margin in the field is less than 2 euros ». The complaint comes from the Italian CIA-Agricoltori which is now asking “to rebalance the distribution of value for the benefit of farmers and, to do so, it is necessary to stimulate aggregation processes between producers and build more balanced and innovative relationships between all the subjects of the fruit and vegetable system , including distribution ‘.
A necessary rebalancing mainly because the sector held up during the pandemic, registering a resilience in purchases with increases in sales of up to 13%. The sector – about 300 thousand companies cultivate 1.2 million hectares, worth 15 billion euros and represents 25.5% of the national agricultural production. According to the CIA, the time has come to “address this situation of imbalance without further delay, to create a new” system pact of Italian fruit and vegetables “that is more equitable, modern, efficient, and thus responding to the next economic and environmental challenges. linked to the European Green Deal which require ever higher standards of sustainability ».
Where to intervene? “The perishable nature, external costs such as energy, packaging and transport, the complexity of the relationships between the actors, the fragmentation of the supply chain and the difficulty in implementing shared system strategies, are all factors that negatively affect the acquisition of the right income for fruit and vegetable producers ».