"Our crops are doing well thanks to the favorable weather conditions, but commercialization is not so good," reports Salvatore Astuto, production manager at OP Platinum, a company located in Sicily.
Salvatore Astuto
"Consumption has dropped, and we believe this is due to the fact that regions keep changing from yellow, to orange or red due to Covid-19. While this is necessary, it disorients citizens, limits their movements and affects purchases, as people tend to buy only the minimum needed for the day. Not to mention the H&R sector, which is on its knees. People long for stability and certainty, conditions necessary not only for social balance, but mostly for the economy."
"Prices are not encouraging but, in our case, big retail chains consider us a reliable interlocutor capable of producing superior quality, so we manage to stand out. This year, we continued focusing on our leading products, i.e. cherry, plum, midi plum, mini San Marzano and round smooth tomatoes followed by eggplants (purple, round and oblong) and traditional and special bell peppers including Sweet Palermo by RZ".
Eletta F1 cherry tomatoes
"In line with market demand, we always keep an eye on innovations and, this year, we have invested in some niche varieties such as the above-mentioned easily-digestible bell peppers, eggplants without thorns and with very few seeds and certified nickel-free tomatoes."
Yuka F1 orange plum tomatoes
"This year, we also tested various tomato varieties, some of which by TSI Italia, including Yuka orange date tomatoes. They will be officially launched during the 2021/22 campaign. Elettra cherry tomatoes are doing particularly well thanks to a Brix level that never drops below 10°, as are Degustibus midi plum tomatoes with their constant 7-8° Brix."
Contacts
Giovanni Astuto - Cell.: +39 330 814094
Salvatore Astuto - Cell.: +39 339 4191445
O.P. Platinum Soc. Coop. Agr. 
C.da Piombo, s.n.
97100 Ragusa - Italy
Tel.: +39 0932510202
Fax: +39 0932511911
Email: info@opplatinum.it
Website: www.opplatinum.it