South-central Italy: A growing gap between the different price proposals

In several articles relating to the extremely tense ongoing negotiations in the South of Italy regarding the price of processing tomatoes for the 2020 season, the Italian press published the ANICAV’s counter-proposal, according to which “the organization representing processors is willing to accept an increase of 2 euro on the price to be paid to growers, both for round tomatoes (which would increase from EUR 95 to 97 per metric tonne (mT)) and for oblong tomatoes (whose price would increase from EUR 105 to 107 /mT).”
The offer was immediately rejected by the agricultural party. About twenty POs gathered by videoconference not only reiterated their refusal to the ANICAV but also maintained their price demands, which they claim are applicable for the coming season because of the rebound caused by the CoVid crisis. A “take it or leave it” proposal, it seems.
At the beginning of May, POs had asked for an increase of approximately 35% in the prices of raw tomatoes, with the price for round tomatoes climbing to EUR 130 per tonne and oblong ones to EUR 140 per tonne
“We are prepared to refuse to sign any agreement and go to the free market," threatened growers. This position is to be taken seriously in an extremely tense context in terms of stocks (with the exception of companies focused on producing 3 kg conditionings intended for catering structures, canteens and restaurants), and it is worrying with regard to agricultural production, which is currently struggling with drought.

Sources: lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it, statoquotidiano.it