Freezing conditions and heavy snowfall that have hit Italy over the past week are having major consequences for the country's agriculture sector, according to Italian farming organisation CIA.
However, the group also said it was 'alarmed' at possible speculative price increases in particular for fresh fruit – including apples, pears, kiwifruit, oranges and clementines – describing such action as 'unjustified'.
'These products have already been harvested,' said a spokesperson. 'Such price rises are entirely without foundation.'
In a statement to the press, the CIA conceded that low temperatures had caused significant damage to some production within the fresh produce sector, but insisted that this had affected vegetable growers above all.
Among the products damaged are various types of salad vegetable, as well as chicory, broccoli, artichokes, cauliflower and cabbage.
'The ice has hit the vegetables sector,' added the spokesperson. 'For open field production, the bracing temperatures have severely tested a number of crops.'
The cold weather has also had an impact on vegetable producers in terms of their input costs, with increases in diesel consumption necessary to heat greenhouses.
But despite the adverse conditions the CIA has reported slight increases in production (between 3 and 5 per cent) for some crops including lettuce, artichokes, radishes and courgettes, which it said would most likely prevent major price increases.
'Strong increases have been fuelled only by pure speculation,' the group said.
The organisation has also called on retailers to adopt a 'two price' model whereby they print not only a product's retail price but also the price paid to the supplier. 'This initiative is designed to protect consumers and producers, preventing upward surges and maintaining balance in the market.'
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