According to Italian producers' association Confagricoltura, up to half of some growers' citrus crops are being rejected as the damage of volcanic ash becomes apparent. Some fruit is already visibly damaged on the tree while tiny lesions appear on the skins of oranges and lemons during and after harvest as the fruit is handled.

The problems are all the more serious as growers in Italy have struggled against drought and hail this season which had already reduced volumes for many producers.

Meanwhile mainland growers of a variety of field vegetable and protected salad crops are being affected by frosts either damaging their crops or leading to rising production costs as heating bills spiral. But Confagricoltura is anxious to point out that prices to consumers are under control. 'In the last seven years, fruit prices have risen by just 3.5 per cent and vegetable and salad prices by 15 per cent,' said a spokesman. 'It is hard to find any other sector where prices have risen so little.'

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