AP

Last updated: 3:24 am
December 19, 2008
Posted: 2:14 am
December 19, 2008

MILAN, Italy – Italy’s agriculture minister is urging Italians to keep imported pineapples off their holiday tables – but says drinking espresso is still OK.

Luca Zaia, however, denies the appeal smacks of protectionism.

“It’s not a campaign against pineapple,” he said. “[But] it’s a symbol of a product that travels [1,500 miles] while in Italy we cultivate 4,500 typical products.”

Italy also imports coffee beans, but Zaia notes there is no local alternative.