Foreign countries now purchase pomegranates from Italy

Rome: An increasing number of European and extra-European operators and supermarket chains are requesting pomegranates from Italy even though, up until a few years ago, they used to purchase them from other Mediterranean origins such as Spain and Turkey.

These foreign clients find in Italy a reliable interlocutor to plan their season, also due to the positive feedback on the fruit.

Masseria Fruttirossi is among the companies that have been growing. It is the leading pomegranate producer in Italy and, a few days ago, it started shipping to the Arab Emirates again. “50% of sales are now headed abroad. We present ourselves on the international market as a structured company capable of providing supplies over time, even better than the usual foreign suppliers. This could be the reason why the volumes we export and the number of clients increases every year. We guarantee supplies from the first week of September until well into March. We ship the produce to Germany, Switzerland, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Arab Emirates and Canada,” explains sales manager Dario De Lisi.

The first container of Wonderful pomegranates is currently on its way to the Arab Emirates. “We are strengthening our relations with the Arab Gulf. We currently have planned two monthly deliveries and the quantities agreed are already higher than during the previous season. We have no low supply problems not only because we have 300 hectares, but mostly because foreign consumers prefer different fruits than the Italian ones. Medium-small grades (350-500 grams) are in fact sold on the domestic market, while foreign consumers prefer those exceeding 500 grams. Buyers are aware our pomegranates are more expensive than those of our foreign competitors, but it does not seem to be a problem for them.”

The manager explains that many clients have already started to plan the Christmas supplies, with an estimated increase in deliveries of around 15%. Pomegranates are popular around the festive period as the fruits are associated with good luck. “Many chains are already asking us to put aside the Christmas boxes containing Magnum pomegranates for them. Thousands of pieces have been ordered so far. It is a 13×13.5 cm box available in two colors and containing one fruit weighing 850 grams and 1.1 kg. The box can also be used as a Christmas ornament.”