Italy's fruit markets and early Calabrian wine harvest strained by extreme heat

Intense heat and extreme weather across Italy are disrupting the fruit and vegetable market. Prices for watermelons have fallen slightly while melons, peppers and onions have risen, and supply of several crops in the north has been cut by hailstorms. The Borsa Merci Telematica Italiana (Bmti) and Italmercati continue to publish daily wholesale price data, showing mixed trends for apricots, peaches, grapes, lettuce and zucchinis as high temperatures accelerate spoilage and reduce harvests.

In the wine‑producing region of Calabria, the record summer heat prompted an early start to the vendemmia, with harvests beginning at the end of July instead of early August. Coldiretti reports that the early ripening has boosted sugar levels and overall quality, but growers face lower yields, labour shortages, bureaucratic hurdles and market pressures. The sector is urged to adapt agronomic practices, streamline regulations and diversify markets to remain competitive under a changing climate.