Trucker protests over fuel prices disrupt supplies in southern Italy

Protests by truckers against high fuel prices in southern Italy are causing supply disruptions in Tuscany, affecting produce deliveries and triggering panic buying at gas stations. The situation is worsening for fresh goods, with recovery expected to take days even if the dispute ends. Fiesa Confesercenti Toscana reports that produce like grapes, citrus, tomatoes, and peppers from the south is not arriving regularly, though supplies from northern Italy and local regions like Valdichiana and Versilia continue. Coop has pledged not to replace missing items with foreign imports, calling the perishable goods situation "potentially critical but not dramatic." Since yesterday afternoon, motorists across the province have formed long lines at fuel stations, fearing shortages due to the transport blockades. The protests stem from truckers' economic struggles with rising fuel costs, which threaten to impact the entire food supply chain.