ASSOMEDMARKETS, NEW MEMBERS

Thanks to a study tour that was recently organized in Italy by FAO in collaboration with the Italian Association of Wholesale Markets Directors (ANDMI), with visits to wholesale markets in Rome, Salerno and Naples, the project Assomedmarkets, which sees us involved together with ANDMI, has welcomed some important new memberships with a view to the first Assembly of the Association scheduled on May 12 in Rome. The new members come from Tunisia, where UTAP (the Tunisian Union for Agriculture and Fisheries) had already signed a membership document, as well as from Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen. Such an interest is the signal that a Mediterranean connection and comparison tool is particularly needed in the fresh produce industry and that right around the wholesale markets this tool could be created and developed in the interests of more harmonious relations, as well as the development of common services for those operating in one of the most extraordinary fruit and vegetable production areas in the world. So far, these memberships come from different industries: not only fruit and vegetables but also fishery and agriculture in general. Assomedmarkets must work on this in order to transform the first members of the Association into spokespeople for its own development in each one's country. The FAO study tour will be followed by other initiatives, which will offer the opportunity to the Assomedmarkets project to be disclosed before the meeting in Rome.

Antonio Felice
Green Med Journal editor

Sentence of the week

"The most recent data on Mediterranean agriculture indicate a worrying collapse in prices against which we must react in the most appropriate way. In November, compared with November 2008, the average price of fruits fell by 15%, as the price of oranges dropped 11.5%, apples by 29.8%, cherry tomatoes by  31%, and kiwifruits by 36.7%. Early December figures as well confirmed the negative trend, which is even worse for apples if compared to November. The Mediterranean crops are experiencing a tragedy that can not be neglected." (Paolo De Castro, Italian, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee at the European Parliament)

ASSOMEDMARKETS, NUOVE ADESIONI

Grazie ad un recente study tour organizzato dalla FAO in Italia, in collaborazione con l'Associazione dei direttori dei mercati all'ingrosso ANDMI, con visite ai mercati all'ingrosso di Roma, Salerno e Napoli, il progetto Assomedmarkets, che ci vede coinvolti insieme alla stessa ANDMI, ha ricevuto alcune importanti adesioni in vista della prima assemblea dell'Associazione che si svolgerà il 12 maggio prossimo a Roma. Le adesioni vengono dalla Tunisia, dove già l'UTAP (Unione Tunisina dell'Agricoltura e della Pesca) aveva sottoscritto il documento di partecipazione, dal Marocco, dall'Algeria, dal Libano, dalla Giordania e dallo Yemen. Tanto interesse è il segnale che di uno strumento mediterraneo di collegamento e di confronto ci sia particolarmente bisogno nel settore dei prodotti freschi e che proprio attorno ai mercati all'ingrosso tale strumento possa nascere e svilupparsi nell'interesse di più armonici rapporti, e dello sviluppo di servizi comuni per gli operatori di uno dei più straordinari bacini di produzione ortofrutticola al mondo. Si tratta per ora di adesioni provenienti da settori diversi: non solo ortofrutticolo, ma anche ittico e agricolo in generale, adesioni sulle quali Assomedmarkets dovrà lavorare per trasformare i primi membri dell'Associazione in portavoce di sviluppo della medesima nei diversi Paesi di appartenenza. Allo study tour della FAO seguiranno altre iniziative nell'ambito delle quali il progetto Assomedmarkets sarà divulgato prima dell'assemblea di Roma.

Antonio Felice
Green Med Journal editor

Frase della settimana

"I più recenti dati sulle colture mediterranee indicano un preoccupante crollo dei prezzi nei confronti del quale occorre reagire nella maniera più appropriata. A novembre, rispetto a novembre 2008, il prezzo medio della frutta è calato del 15%, con il prezzo delle arance calato dell'11,5%, delle mele del 29,8%, dei pomodori ciliegini del 31%, e dei kiwi del 36,7%. Anche l'inizio di dicembre ha confermato il cattivo andamento, che per le mele risulta persino peggiorato rispetto a novembre. Le colture mediterranee stanno vivendo un dramma che non può essere trascurato". (Paolo De Castro, Italiano, Presidente della commissione agricoltura del Parlamento europeo)

ASSOMEDMARKETS, NEW MEMBERS

Thanks to a study tour that was recently organized in Italy by FAO in collaboration with the Italian Association of Wholesale Markets Directors (ANDMI), with visits to wholesale markets in Rome, Salerno and Naples, the project Assomedmarkets, which sees us involved together with ANDMI, has welcomed some important new memberships with a view to the first Assembly of the Association scheduled on May 12 in Rome. The new members come from Tunisia, where UTAP (the Tunisian Union for Agriculture and Fisheries) had already signed a membership document, as well as from Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen. Such an interest is the signal that a Mediterranean connection and comparison tool is particularly needed in the fresh produce industry and that right around the wholesale markets this tool could be created and developed in the interests of more harmonious relations, as well as the development of common services for those operating in one of the most extraordinary fruit and vegetable production areas in the world. So far, these memberships come from different industries: not only fruit and vegetables but also fishery and agriculture in general. Assomedmarkets must work on this in order to transform the first members of the Association into spokespeople for its own development in each one's country. The FAO study tour will be followed by other initiatives, which will offer the opportunity to the Assomedmarkets project to be disclosed before the meeting in Rome.

Antonio Felice
Green Med Journal editor

Sentence of the week

"The most recent data on Mediterranean agriculture indicate a worrying collapse in prices against which we must react in the most appropriate way. In November, compared with November 2008, the average price of fruits fell by 15%, as the price of oranges dropped 11.5%, apples by 29.8%, cherry tomatoes by  31%, and kiwifruits by 36.7%. Early December figures as well confirmed the negative trend, which is even worse for apples if compared to November. The Mediterranean crops are experiencing a tragedy that can not be neglected." (Paolo De Castro, Italian, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee at the European Parliament)

ASSOMEDMARKETS, DES NOUVELLES ADHESIONS

Grâce à un récent voyage d'études organisé par la FAO en Italie, en collaboration avec l’association des directeurs des marchés de gros ANDMI, avec des visites aux marchés de gros de Rome, de Salerne et de Naples, le projet Assomedmarkets, qui nous implique avec l’ANDMI, a reçu quelques adhésions importantes en vue de la première assemblée de l’Association qui se déroulera le 12 mai prochain à Rome. Les adhésions sont de la part de la Tunisie, où l’UTAP (Union Tunisienne de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche) avait déjà signé le document de participation, du Maroc, de l’Algérie, du Liban, de la Jordanie et du Yémen. Autant d’intérêt est le signal qu’il y a vraiment besoin d’un instrument méditerranéen de liaison et de rencontre dans le secteur des produits frais et que autour des marchés de gros, un tel instrument peut naître et se développer dans l’intérêt de rapports plus harmonieux, et du développement de services communs pour les opérateurs d’un des plus extraordinaires bassins de production de fruits et légumes au monde. Pour le moment, il s’agit d’adhésions provenant de divers secteurs : non seulement celui des fruits et légumes, mais aussi celui du poisson et le secteur agricole en général, des adhésions qui requièrent le travail d’Assomedmarkets pour transformer les premiers membres de l’association en porte-voix du développement de cette dernière dans les différents pays d’appartenance. L’étude de la FAO sera suivie par d’autres initiatives dans le domaine, des initiatives pour lesquelles le projet d’Assomedmarkets sera divulgué avant l’assemblée de Rome.

Antonio Felice
Green Med Journal editor

Phrase de la semaine

"Les plus récentes données relatives aux cultures méditerranéennes indiquent une chute préoccupante des prix qu’il faut affronter en réagissant de la manière la plus appropriée. En novembre, par rapport à novembre 2008, le prix moyen des fruits a chuté de 15%, avec le prix des oranges qui a chuté de 11,5%, celui des pommes de 29,8%, celui des tomates cerises de 31% et du kiwi de 36,7%. Le début de décembre a également confirmé le mauvais avancement, qui est même pire pour les pommes par rapport à novembre. Les cultures méditerranéennes vivent un drame qui ne peut être négligé." (Paolo De Castro, italien, Président de la Commission Agriculture du Parlement Européen)