The summer of 2019 has seen twice as many storms, tornados and hailstorms hit Italy as last year, farming representative group Coldiretti has said.
Coldiretti said that on average, six hailstorms a day have taken place since summer began, with a devastating effect on vegetables and fruit crops, reports Ansa.it.
As well as crops, animals are also suffering from increased temperatures, with production of milk, eggs and honey also falling.
A trend towards 'tropicalisation' is taking place, Coldiretti said, which is highlighted by a high frequency of violent demonstrations, hailstorms, precipitation and rapid changes from intense heat to bad weather.
Unpredictable Weather
In the past few days, temperatures in some parts of Italy have reached 50 degrees, while uprooted plants, destroyed greenhouses, felled vineyards and impassable country roads have led some regions to announce a state of emergency.
The most affected region is said to be Lombardy, where weather impact has cost farmers an estimated €40 billion, between production losses and damage to infrastructure, according to Coldiretti Lombardia.
Coldiretti has called on consumers to buy fruit and vegetables sourced in Italy as an act of solidarity with affected farmers.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Matilde Casagrande. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
