EARLY HARVEST: ITALIANS ARE ON VACATION BUT GRAPES TO BE PICKED BY QUALIFIED FOREIGNERS. THE SOLUTION OF UMANI RONCHI, ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS ITALIAN WINERIES, HAS BEEN TO TURN TO THE SPANISH AGENCY “TERRA FECUNDIS”

The 2007 harvest is set to be early and, in some areas, it will even begin in August, right when Italians are on vacation. But a solution has been found by some by turning to qualified foreign workers for help. An example of which is explained by agronomist Luigi Piersanti of the Umbrian winery, Umani Ronchi. According to Piersanti, the Ronchi winery has employed a team of qualified workers from Ecuador and Peru who have been recruited through the Spanish agency Terra Fecundis.
“The problem with laborers this year” – explained Piersanti, agrarian expert at the winery in Osimo – “has been caused by the anticipated period. There are fewer students who are available to work the harvest, who had instead been growing in numbers in recent years”.
But, if on the one hand, turning to a foreign agency has some advantages in terms of management, it is, on the other hand, much more costly.
“Economically it is not worth it” – continued Piersanti – “because, as well as the usual retributions for workers, equal to that of the national worker contract, it is normal that there is an added cost for the agency that recruits workers to cover costs”. The winery, in fact, must pay up to 13% more and offer lodging, but it is also free from bureaucratic red tape and will be entrusted with competent workers.