Output of Italian kiwifruit is expected to fall slightly this season due mainly to inclement weather in the Lazio area.
According to figures released this week by Italian fruit and horticulture service CSO, the total saleable Italian kiwifruit crop is forecast to reach 436,200 tonnes - an eight per cent decline on 2008’s figure.
In Lazio, the principal growing region, output is set to fall to 149,785t from last season’s 186,081t. According to CSO wind damage has caused the 20 per cent forecast drop in output. And in Veneto, which is expected to contribute some 64,614t to the overall Italian crop, hail damage has taken its toll and led to a nine per cent decline on 2008 levels.
UK importers have already begun receiving some early Sugartop fruit, although the main Hayward crop is not expected to be on stream for another three weeks. One importer told FPJ; “We expect that the crop reductions will have some impact on sendings to the UK, but it will be a while yet before we know how much. We are also looking at supplies from Greece and France. It looks as though supplies between the southern hemisphere will dovetail nicely this year and New Zealand is on target to drop out of supply in about the third week of November.”
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