In Italy is reaped a unique harvest

In Italy is reaped a unique harvest

This year In Italy is observed a unique phenomenon. Cherry-picking season, which lasts in the country usually from May to late June, this year was for one month shorter. For the first time in the Italian history cherries ripen in the north and south at one time.

Usually the first crop of cherries is harvested in the southern provinces and regions of Italy: Apulia, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia. However, this year because of the record high temperatures that were observed in northern Italy, the harvest began simultaneously in both parts of the country.

As noted by ansa.it, phenomenally early harvest of cherries in the north was very good. Until recently most cherries on the market were represented by Spanish farmers at a price of 15-20 euros. But now Italian cherry literally "flooded" markets from the Piedmont to the Campania lowering the prices by almost 50%. Now the cost of cherry in Italy is from 10 euros in Turin and about 5-6 euros in Bari and Verona.

Falling of prices in the fruit market of Italy happened two weeks earlier than the traditional "bottom", which is usually achieved in the first week of June. It is expected that prices will start rising again for at least in a month, when the bulk of the current crop will be sold and on the market will remain only cherries from the mountain areas in the northern parts of the country.

It is worth noting that in Italy there is a tradition to celebrate end of the cherry harvesting. It is celebrated on June 24, on the day of St. John.

Generally, celebration of the harvest in Italy has long become not only agrarian celebration, but also tourist event, part of the development industry of gastronomic tourism, which in Italy is named Slow Food. Basic principle of Slow Food is enjoying food. Italians is a nation that does not recognize the food on the run.

Ilya Kalachev

Date: 20/05/2011