THE MAIN EFFECTS OF GREEN HARVESTING ON THE SICILIAN WINE COOPERATIVES

Abstract

In Sicily in the 2010-2012 period green harvesting is the most successful of the 9 measures provided by the Italian National Support Programme (NSP) for wine. Its main goal is to contribute to restoring the balance between supply and demand by destructing or removing grape bunches in their immature stage in order to prevent market crises. The paper firstly presents the main results of a "three-year" application of Green Harvesting measure to the Sicilian wine sector. Firstly the implementation of Green Harvesting Measure was examined at EU, national and regional level through the analysis of the available statistical data; at a later stage its effects on the Sicilian wine sector were investigated. The trend of vineyard area and wine production was studied by comparing them before and throughout the application of Green Harvesting. Another stage of the research consisted of a survey carried out through direct interviews to 30 Sicilian wine cooperatives, the aim of which was to collect and analyse the trend of grape quantities delivered to the cooperatives, as well as the correspondent prices concerning the last 6 grape harvests (2007-2012). Another aim of the research was to collect the most common viewpoints and impressions of people working in the wine sector cooperatives with regards to the above-mentioned measure. The study has pointed out that "Green Harvesting" has been contributing - together with other elements - to reduce the supply of wine grape in Sicily and partially to raise the prices of the wines involved in this region. This measure has been however object of criticisms in relation to its impact in economic, social and ethical terms.