Following the comments of some Belgian pear traders on problems in sales caused by cheap prices, FreshPlaza asked an opinion to Diego De Lucca, export manager from Alegra (a part of the Apo Conerpo cooperative together with Naturitalia).
Diego says that, at the moment, Italian pears are not affected by competition from overseas: "counter-seasonal pears have arrived from South Africa and Argentina, and they will be coming for a few weeks."
"The main part is delivered to Rotterdam or Russia and some ships arrive directly to the Mediterranean sea. CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) prices to Rotterdam have been in the