Farmers race against clock to salvage harvests as Melavi declares bankruptcy
The apple cooperative of Melavi in Valtellina, Italy, has ceased operations due to financial difficulties and challenging market conditions. The closure has left many apple growers in the region without a co-op, but a coalition of volunteers has stepped in to offer support.
At its peak, Melavi was a significant player in Valtellina's apple production, accounting for approximately 85% of the territory's production. With the potential to produce 300,000 quintals of apples annually, it was once the pride of apple production in the region. However, its decline was primarily due to poor management, with costs exceeding turnover.
In response to the cooperative's closure, a group of seven Valtellina apple producers have formed a coalition of volunteers. Their mission is to help the affected growers by storing and marketing the apples produced by the members left without a cooperative. This grassroots effort aims to sustain the livelihoods of the growers and maintain the region's apple-growing heritage.
The volunteers facilitate direct sales to consumers to bypass intermediaries, promote local apple varieties, and assist growers in accessing alternative markets. They also provide logistical support, help with marketing efforts, and raise awareness about the cultural and economic importance of apple farming in Valtellina.
The insolvency procedure for a preventive concordat was initiated by Melavi in the spring of 2024. The aim of the rescue operation, announced at the beginning of July by two regional assessors, Alessandro Beduschi (Agriculture) and Massimo Sertori (Mountains), is to secure the 2025 apple campaign for the members affected by the failure of Melavi.
Melavi's harvest in 2024 was significantly less than its potential, with only 68,000 quintals produced. The cooperative employed 200 people, including administrative staff, permanent field workers, and seasonal laborers. Despite the closure, extraordinary wage supplementation was requested for the cessation of activities and applied to all permanent employees of Melavi until December 31, 2024.
The decline of Melavi was not due to a drop in consumption, competition from Trentino, or fruit loss due to pests or climate change. Instead, it was an unfortunate combination of financial mismanagement and challenging market conditions that led to its demise. However, with the help of the coalition of volunteers, the apple growers left orphaned by the closure of Melavi are finding a way to continue their work and preserve the region's apple-growing tradition.
- The closure of Melavi has brought about a shift in the finance landscape for apple growers in Valtellina, as they now must find alternative ways to market and store their food-and-drink products.
- The development of the volunteer coalition aims to support the livelihoods of the apple growers, who are now navigating their work within the industry under challenging market conditions.
- The current financial difficulties faced by the apple growers are not merely isolated to issues with the market, but also stem from a history of poor management within the industry.
