Moscow. The organic food business contributes to driving the ‘Made in Italy’ brand abroad, marking an annual increase in foreign markets of approximately 8% in the first quarter of 2017. Only in March 2017 compared to March 2016, exports of fresh produce rose by 7.9% and the food industry by 13.3%. The Italian CIA (Italian Farmers Federation) based on data released by ISTAT on foreign trade thus confirm that the trend over the first three months seems to confirm and maintain last year’s record of food and beverage exports. Particularly brilliant performance in Russia: in this year’s first quarter, exports grew by 45% annually, exceeding €100 million thus reaching pre-embargo numbers. This is due to the dynamism that characterises the agricultural businesses, which have not been discouraged and have focused on products that were excluded by the embargoed. (9Colonne)
