Agricola Gloria partner Giulio Magrini says Italy is not the best market for importing exotic fruit, but pineapples are an exception.

For this reason, the company has recently started trialing imports of the tropical fruit.

During industry event Macfrut in Rimini last month, the executive told www.freshfruitportal.com pineapples were in demand in Italy and his company was buying the product from U.S.-based Chestnut Hill Farm, which sources from Costa Rica.

Chestnut Hill Farm account manager Adriana Garcia said the group has been sending a couple of containers per week to Italy and the feedback has been very positive.

Chestnut has two farms in the Central American country grown over 3,600 hectares, translating to 10.5 million boxes per year. Of that amount, 60% is shipped to the United States and 40% to Europe.

In Italy Agricola Gloria distributes fruit from 22 countries around the world, including Chilean kiwifruit and cherries, and Argentine and South African citrus.

"We distribute to conventional markets and packhouses that prepare the fruit for supermarkets," Magrini said.

"Our mission is to export fruit, not process it."

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www.freshfruitportal.com