The Italian kiwifruit sector has signed an inter-professional agreement, which it handed over to the national farm minister on Tuesday, that will help ensure the quality of fruit reaching the market. Inter-professional organisation president Fabrizio Marzano said the agreement will hold for the 2006-07 campaign and the following two seasons.

It is the first time that the kiwifruit sector has reached such an agreement in line with EU regulation 2200/96 and sets out quality parameters, as well as start dates for the sale of fruit in different markets.

Marzano said the agreement means Hayward kiwifruit for marketing in EU countries may not be harvested before October 10 and for all other international destinations, fruit may not be sold before November 6.

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