NAPLES. Lamb at a high price in supermarkets, even the Easter egg is saltier. The prices of food in the shopping cart are soaring, forcing Neapolitans to spend more and buy less. No sector can be considered unscathed for the Easter holidays: fruit and vegetable prices are rising sharply at retail, while the cost of lamb is also suffering, doubling by almost 20 percent compared to a year ago. Prices also increase at the bars on the tourist streets where coffee can cost up to 1.20-1.30 euros at the counter and the Sfogliatella and Pastiera with an increase of 20 percent. According to Cia Agricoltori Italiani, fruit and vegetables remain among the sectors most affected due to unfavorable climatic conditions and where prices along the supply chain are increasing excessively.
The anomalies along the supply chain are evident: a kilo of finished product is paid by consumers at prices ranging from 2.5 to 4 euros. Courgettes, which cost just under a euro in the countryside, arrive on supermarket shelves with increases of 240 percent; pears from 1.5 euros to more than 116 percent. From field to table, therefore, the price doubles. «However, agricultural producers are unable to obtain profitable prices», says Raffaele Amore, president of Cia Campania. «Yet they incur production costs increased by 200 percent compared to two years ago. 180 percent and 63 percent more for electricity and fuel respectively.
And, while the price of durum wheat semolina pasta for consumption rises, we import cereals from countries that have production, environmental and health standards different from ours and do not respect workers’ rights. It would be enough to include in the treaties the clause that the rules to combat all this are respected by everyone.” Even supermarkets are taking action with specific offers during the Easter period. «In recent days we have recorded a drop in sales as they were penalized by the closure of Via Consalvo to traffic. Now the road has reopened but still without sidewalks”, says Paolo Vaccaro, owner of Decò Loggetta and Consalvo. “The only way to survive the crisis is to put some typical holiday products on offer and to keep the price of lamb accessible.” Even at the restaurant Easter lunch increases.
«There have always been small increases during the Easter period, but we are doing everything we can to contain them», underlines Paolo Surace di Mattozzi in Piazza Carità. «What allows us to maintain the usual prices is tourism which fortunately is very strong even in this early spring. Tourists flock to our place to taste the specialties of our territory, confirming that many choose Naples not only for the pizza but also for its cuisine. We hope that our administrators know how to plan better and better and make the city more and more attractive.” And the one who has kept costs unchanged is the Scaturchio pastry shop in Portamedina. «Artisanal eggs and doves have only undergone small increases», explains Ornella Scaturchio. «This year there is a lot of tourism from which Pignasecca is benefiting. We have had many close holidays between St. Joseph’s Day, Women’s Day and now Easter. We hope that this trend will continue in the coming months and that Montesanto, a transit road for those taking the funicular to San Martino, will also become as safe as the other more crowded streets in the centre.”
