“We want to reiterate it loud and clear: we are not speculators!” Thus begins one letter sent by Elia Pellegrino – president of AIFO, Italian Association of Olive Oil Mills – to all its members.
“The mere idea of this accusation – continues the letter – is offensive and defamatory, damaging the dignity and honorability of an entire category. We are entrepreneurs serving the olive oil supply chain. Our company is on the contrary the central link of the supply chain. Through i our mills a lot goes by more than half of Italian extra virgin olive oil which is marketed worldwide. Let's take a risk ours every year capitalin addition to ours reputation, to offer excellence.
We have shared a process of concertation within the olive-oil world - continues the letter from the president of Aifo - with the creation andactive participation in the work of the FOOI, because we are responsible entrepreneurs who well understand the unit valuerather than divisions. We are the central link in the chain and we will not be never us to shirk our responsibilities ma the ring, if subjected to excessive tension, can break. It would be a tragedy for the entire olive oil supply chain.
We are living a particularly complex olive oil campaign and I also had the opportunity to remember it in the recent past. It takes strong nerves, both at an entrepreneurial and political-association level. The market situation, with low production and high prices, unfortunately exacerbates, rather than reduces, friction.
It is neither the intention nor the interest of the undersigned to exacerbate feelings or fuel sterile controversies. As I had the opportunity to reiterate a few days ago at a conference in Bari, this is indeed the case the time of unity, as long as we all want it. And as long as there are no children and stepchildren.
I'm not just one man in charge. In addition to the vision of the undersigned – concludes Elia Pellegrino – the moment requires that the stance of our Association be strong but above all shared. For this reason I called an Aifo Board of Directors meeting for next October 26th. At that time the entire management group will make decisions, and consequent resolutions, to deal with the difficult situation. More to protect the dignity and honorability of the category. I want to guarantee you the undying commitment of the undersigned to defend the Italian oil millers at all times and in every location, well aware of the role that has been assigned to us".
