DECLINE IN ITALIAN WINE, OIL, CHEESE AND PASTA IMPORTS IN THE U.S. IN 2009

During the first two months in 2009, Italian imports in the U.S.A., totaled 4.18 billion dollars, a decrease of 28.3% on 5.83 billion dollars in the corresponding period in 2008. The items that contributed most to the decline are: wine, with a decrease in value of 19.2%, olive oil, with decrease of 28.2%, cheese, with a decrease of 45.7% and pasta, with a decrease of 22.3%. Source: Italian Wine & Food Institute