The 2002-03 campaign for Italian kiwifruit could be, according to ISMEA; its annual crop forecasts made with the main industry associations Unaproa, Uiapoa and Unacoa point to larger kiwifruit production and yields, with the crop expected to be 20 per cent up on 2001-02 Volumes are set to increase to 394,000 tonnes this year from 329,000 tonnes in 2001, with Lazio seeing the largest single volume growth of all the kiwifruit growing regions in Italy, an increase of 27 per cent to some 102,000 tonnes. There is likely to be double-digit growth too in Piedmont – up 29.2 per cent to 88,155 tonnes – while Veneto and Emilia Romagna are set to climb 4.1 per cent (51,676 tonnes) and 6.6 per cent (69,342 tonnes) respectively.

According to ISMEA, 80 per cent of the kiwifruit produced in Italy comes from these four regions. Kiwifruit production in the rest of Italy is expected to grow by 26 per cent.

More than 21,000 hectares of Italy's fruit and vegetable producing land is now devoted to kiwifruit, a 4 per cent rise on last year. Yields are set to top 18.7 tonnes per hectare, a 15 per cent increase on last year. Quality is reported to be more than satisfactory, with good sizes and sugar levels expected.

ISMEA's survey also reveals a trend to more environmentally-friendly production. Half of the companies surveyed are using integrated methods of production while 11 per cent of the sample are now producing organic kiwifruit.

Market prospects look good too, due in no small part to the reduced volumes of New Zealand kiwifruit currently available on the market. Sales are expected to be strong right from the start of the season which, according to ISMEA, is looking good.

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