There is a lively demand for the Green Asparagus of Altedo PGI, recognized throughout Europe. Emilia Romagna produces 7% of the 8,100 hectares cultivated with asparagus in Italy and it is the place for the European production of the Green Asparagus of Altedo PGI.
The appreciated vegetable is cultivated in a precise area, defined by the PGI production specification, which goes from the province of Bologna, in the east side of the Via Emilia, to the municipalities bordering the Po river in the province of Ferrara, reaching up to the sea, in the municipality of Lagosanto Ferrarese and Mesola.
The Consortium has around a 100 producers, mostly gathered in the cooperative groups of Apofruit, Casa Mesola, and Patfrut, with strong representation from individual companies.
The distribution of the product is aimed at 70% of large-scale retail trade, the remainder to traditional retail and a small part to direct sales. The sales on the Horeca channel are growing.
The Italian market takes at least 80%; the remaining share reaches the European market, mainly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the large-scale retail trade, it has become part of Coop Italia's high-quality Fior Fiore line.
What makes this product unique?
The unicity of the Green Asparagus of Altedo PGI is certainly determined by the land from which it is produced. The difference is made by the people and the community of producers who, for over 20 years, have been committed in promoting their asparagus.
People make the difference, even in agriculture.
The President of the Consortium, Gianni Cesari, a producer of asparagus for over 30 years, "The Green Asparagus is a product that can supplement farmers' income. To make the necessary knowledge available to producers to successfully undertake this cultivation so appreciated by consumers and the Consortium will work on this front to relaunch production by introducing techniques that allow to optimize costs and increase the profitability of the crop also through an expansion of the marketing calendar."
The numbers of asparagus in Italy
CSO Italy's 2024 data highlight a total area of 8,100 hectares cultivated with asparagus with Puglia as the leading region, although in constant decline, followed by Veneto and Campania. In Emilia Romagna, the hectares cultivated in 2024 are 600 distributed mostly in the typical production areas of the Green Asparagus of Altedo PGI.
Recently, asparagus consumption in Italy has reached an average of over 20,000 tonnes, equal to 111 million euros in value, with a decrease compared to previous years.
Promotion project
For two-years (2024-2025), the Consortium for the Protection of the Green Asparagus of Altedo PGI is the owner of a promotion project. The Green Asparagus Festival of Altedo opens in Mesola (FE) from 20th April and will continue until 2nd May and includes three tasting sessions on 25th April from 4.30pm; on April 28th from 4.30pm and on May 1st from 4.30pm.
For more information:
Green Asparagus of Altedo PGI
www.rpcircuiti.it