The Italian Canning Industry in the 19th and 20th centuries

The food preservation industry (canned fruit, vegetables, meat and fish) mostly contributed to the increase of the availability of food on a large scale and its development had many implications for the economy of the time. In Italy, new opportunities for growth became available for entrepreneurs, who had previously restricted their production and distribution to local markets. The canning industry shaped the agricultural landscape of many regions. It needed and encouraged mechanization, scientific research and new technological processes in packaging and storage systems, which in turn drove up the demand for new materials. Moreover, canned food was relatively cheap, and its growing availability to the working classes was closely linked to social and cultural changes, which involved mass urbanization, the growth of the role of women in industrializing areas and the increase of migration flows overseas and within Europe. The contribution presents some reflections on the food preservation industry in Italy from the 19th century up to the mid-20th century, exploring its evolution in production, markets and consumption.