Apple producers from Spain, Italy and France have created a new tri-national group that will meet to discuss issues affecting exporters in the sector later this month.
The Spanish-French-Italian group, which is made up of leading associations from each of the three countries, will meet for the first time in Rome on 29 March to share information regarding the performance of apples in export markets.
According to information from Spain’s representative, national federation Fepex, it is clear that the country is becoming ever more important as an apple importer, rather than simply an exporter.
Apple imports to Spain reached 210,072 tonnes in 2010, up 9.5 per cent from the year before, of which French and Italian fruit accounted for the bulk, following Chile and Germany.
French apples volumes to its southern neighbour hit 77,723 tonnes last year, an 18 per cent rise compared with 2009, while imports from Italy totaled 67,495 tonnes – up 9.5 per cent from the year before and by 50 per cent compared with 2008.
