Italian Government Bails Out Cheese Producers

STEVE INSKEEP, host:

And as governments around the world bail out or consider bailing out troubled industries, our last word in business comes from Italy where they are bailing out the parmigiano industry. That's our last word in business today. Today's Wall Street Journal tells us that Rome plans to fork over - fork over - $65 million to prop up the country's parmigiano producers. You know, the people who bring you parmesan cheese to put on your pasta.

The problem is not deteriorating demand. Apparently Italy's parmigiano industry, mostly family operations, have been financially shaky for years. And so now Rome plans to buy up to 100,000 wheels of their cheese and donate them to charity. That's the business news on Morning Edition from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

And I'm Renee Montagne. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.