Lack of faith in the future, less money to spend, and more care about not wasting have actually led to a big drop of 5-6% of the traditional foods that Italians eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas. The late arrival of winter and the increase in the number of extreme weather events have also changed how long it takes for products to grow, which affects how often they can be found on Italian tables. The National Observatory of ITALMERCATI, which is a network of wholesale markets where the prices of goods for supermarkets and restaurants are set, points this out. By comparing the price trends of some typical and most-requested Christmas fruits, vegetables, and fish, it is clear that wholesale prices are lower now than they were at the same time in 2021, especially in the agri-food sector. Fabio Massimo Pallottini, president of ITALMERCATI, said, "Consumers give up quality, which has dangerous long-term effects, especially when you think about health." My advice is to buy products that have a short time from harvest to consumption and have a small effect on the "cold chain".
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