Italy's four leading apple producer groups have reportedly reached agreement to open a jointly managed sales office in Moscow as they seek to build on recent growing demand for their fruit in Russia.
According to a report posted on the TrentinoAgricoltura.it website, Trentino-based organisations Melinda and La Trentina have agreed with South Tyrol-based companies VOG and VI.P Val Venosta to establish a permanent commercial presence in the Russian capital as of the upcoming 2009/10 season.
The companies say they expect to market around 5,000 truckloads of apples in Russia, where, despite recent difficulties in terms of exporting fruit to the country, greater cohesion and coordination of supply is expected to result in better market penetration.
Together, Trentino and South Tyrol account for the large majority of Italian apple volumes, producing around 65 per cent of the country's total crop.
