Christmas: one in three Italians gives food or wine as a gift

Almost one in three Italians (30%) has chosen to give wines, sparkling wines or typical food products for the holidays this year to put under the tree and set the holiday tables. This is what emerges from the Coldiretti/Ixe' analysis over the weekend in which, "also driven by the wait for the thirteenth salary, more than half of Italians who have not yet completed their gifts are starting to shop". An event in which initiatives are multiplying also in the Campagna Amica farmers' markets from Milan to Porta Romana in Rome to the Circo Massimo up to Cosenza and Sassari along the entire peninsula with tastings and show cooking. For gifts, 52% of Italian families - Coldiretti underlines - have set a budget between 100 and 300 euros this year, 31% under 100 euros, 14% from 300 to a thousand euros and a lucky 3% over a thousand euros. The homage of food and wine baskets is very widespread, alongside the inevitable panettone, the meticulous search for cheeses, cured meats, farmer's preserves, pasta made from ancient Italian grains, meat from national toric breeds and native wines behind which there is a story to tell on the festive table has established itself. According to Coldiretti, seven out of ten Italians (70%) are attending the traditional Christmas markets that are multiplying in Italian squares this year and among these, a good half (50%) buy food and wine products there. The best guarantee of the originality of the food products on sale is – the association specifies – the personal presence of the agricultural producer who can offer not only direct tastings but also information. An opportunity that is supported in Italy by the network of farmers' markets of Campagna Amica.