Southern Italy: ‘a price agreement is still a long way off’…

"Processors and growers hold irreconcilable positions in the negotiations for an interbranch agreement for the processing tomato season in the South-Central region and they are still a long way off any kind of joint settlement.” These words were spoken mid-March by Giorgio Mercuri, the President of the Alliance of Food-Industry Cooperatives. 
"I find it to be contradictory," stated Mr. Mercuri, "to talk on the one hand of developing products and getting recognition for a PGI for peeled tomatoes and on the other hand to refuse to grant the agricultural sector an appropriate price that could support the income of growers and protect them from the risk of working at a loss."
The President of the Italian Alliance of Food-Industry Cooperatives also explained that it is unacceptable that the growth and development of a sector which is vital for the economy of southern Italy should not naturally include a fair income for growers and for other people working in the industry. He pointed out that "the struggle against illegal employment is not yet over, in a context where the deterioration of revenue and of salaries is jeopardizing the institution of ethical rules and the sustainability of the industry as a whole.”
Mr. Mercuri ended by pointing out that "the delay in settling on an agreement also makes it more difficult for growers to select cultivars, which are of vital importance for the processing industry."

Beyond these declarations, a working basis has been established upon which to build a proposal, since the Princes company, one of the biggest processors in Apulia, has decided to sign agreements with the POs that supply its raw materials. Contracts have been signed on the basis of EUR 90 /mT for round tomatoes and EUR 97 /mT for oblong tomatoes intended for producing canned peeled tomatoes. This latest price will also be applied to early harvested round tomatoes. Cherry-tomatoes will be purchased at EUR 160 /mT. It is nonetheless important to note that Princes has only signed these contracts with Apulia growers, with the aim of reducing its transport costs. 

Source: FreshPlaza, AgroNotizie