Italy, along with other countries like Spain, is a major producer and exporter of fresh fruit and vegetables to Europe, particularly during the months of June and August. In the last year, the country produced 10 million tonnes of fruit and around 7 million tonnes of vegetables.
The country has a very diverse climate that covers the entire peninsula. In addition to traditional fruits grown in temperate zones (such as apples and pears), this allows it to produce stone and citrus fruits (oranges, mandarins or lemons) and other more exotic products such as figs and kiwis. Italy is the second largest producer of citrus fruits in Europe, after Spain.
It is estimated that this activity is mainly concentrated in the Italian regions of Apulia, Calabria, Sicily, Campania and Emilia-Romagna, which account for almost 60% production.
Italy exports 1/3 of its production
One third of this production is exported each year, with its largest market being Germany, followed by France, Poland and Switzerland. About 15 percent is sent to countries outside the European Union.
In 2017, Italy’s watermelon exports surpassed 214 million kg, and a 2018 report remarked on an 18 percent growth in tonnes of orange exports, totalling over 143,000 tonnes. Lemon exports also increased by around 16%, thanks to increased sales in Germany and Austria.
As far as Spain is concerned, Italy is the fifth largest market for Andalusian fruit and vegetable exports, worth 279 million euros in 2017 and having grown by 70% over the last decade.
Assembly centre in Bari (Italy)
Apulia is one of the twenty regions that make up the Italian Republic. Its capital and most populated city is Bari. This is one of the five regions with the highest concentration of fruit and vegetable production.
When this article was published, Green Box described an assembly-centre project in the Bari area. Contact the company for current availability and terms.
Apulia’s main export area for fruit and vegetables is Germany, which imports goods worth 230 million euros. During 2018, exports of agricultural products increased by 9%, and vegetables by approximately 5%.
Assembly and distribution availability depends on the destination and agreed terms. Contact Green Box about your specific operation.
What are the benefits of an assembly centre?
Packaging must be assembled according to the model instructions. Ask about availability and terms for your order.
Assembly and securing
Each unit must be assembled and strapped according to the instructions applicable to the load.
When choosing packaging, consider the load, securing and handling during loading and unloading. Losses and safety depend on the conditions of each operation.
Customer-friendly
Storage needs depend on quantities, delivery frequency and the agreed operation.
Ask whether pre-assembled boxes are available for your destination and required quantities.
Improved service
Availability and delivery times must be confirmed for each order and destination.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about this article
What sector does the article examine?
It discusses Italian fruit and vegetable production and exports in the period covered by the publication.
Which Green Box project is mentioned?
The article describes an assembly-centre project in the Bari area as it stood when the article was published.
Which Italian city is named in the article?
The assembly centre described in the article is in Bari.
What does the article discuss besides production?
It discusses exports of Italian fruit and vegetables in the period covered by the article.
What is the purpose of a local assembly centre?
It helps prepare packaging close to the customers who use it.
One reply on “Italy, a major European fruit and vegetable producer”
It is good to note that European countries most often export to neighbouring markets. Spain, for example, exports a lot of produce to Portugal, France and Italy, while the Netherlands exports lots to Germany, Belgium and the UK. Germany has the largest import flows in the intra-European fruit and vegetables trade.