Luigi Peviani, president of Italian import-export association Fruit Imprese, has warned that positive results achieved by the country's fresh produce trade last year should not distract attention fromthe current economic crisis, which he said had the potential to changethe buying habits of millions of consumers.
According to new figures presented by the organisation at its annual assembly in Rome, the Italian fresh produce sector saw a 21.2 per cent increase in sales to €1.24bn in 2008.
Export volumes fell by 2.5 per cent year-on-year during 2008, but the value of those shipments was up 10.4 per cent. For imports, sales volume and value were both higher in 2008, up 3.9 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively.
Mr Peviani also had strong words for those looking to limit fresh produce tradewith other countries. 'The free market remains the base on which ourfuture will be built,' he said. 'We cannot succumb to protectionism,which in the end protects no-one. Raising trade barriers won't resolveour economic problems, particularly those faced by agriculture and, inparticular, the fresh produce industry.'
Meanwhile, Mr Peviani has been re-elected as president of Fruit Imprese for the period 2009-2012. A number of new posts created during the organisation's recent restructuring were also filled, with Marco Salvi of Salvi Unacoa named as Fruit Imprese's head of production, Pino Calcagni of Besana Group / Uno Móc as head of global affairs and Dole Italy's Vittorio Grotta as head of trading.
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