"Over the course of just a few years, we have established an interesting network around the Valley Gold® hybrid late tangerine of African origin, to the point of arousing the interest of propagation nurseries first, and subsequently of producers, who have decided to set up the first plantings of this citrus fruit in Apulia, Basilicata and Calabria," said by Vito Vitelli, agronomist and technical director/quality manager of Covil, the consortium of tree nurseries in the Lucania region chosen by CITRICOM IP, the foreign company that manages the patent for the variety.
Valley Gold fruit at the end of January
With Valley Gold, the mission is not to create an alternative to existing cultivars, but to fill a period in which the supply (from the second ten days of January to mid-February) is usually guaranteed by the Common Clementine, a product that is often sold cold or harvested on the plant beyond its ripening period.
"Successful cultivation is achieved when the farmer manages the plant without improvising, perhaps with the help of an experienced agronomist. In fact, the presence of a technician can guide the grower especially in the first years when a series of aspects, such as nutrition, defence, irrigation and canopy management, need to be prioritized".
Giuseppe Apolito is one of those southern producers who has achieved satisfactory results on Valley Gold plants. His crop of 500 plants (about half a hectare) was planted in July 2019.
"I started harvesting the first mandarins in mid-January and finished a few days ago, for a total of 1,000 kilograms sold at the local wholesale markets, with quotations of over one euro per kilo. The agronomic management carried out so far has not been carried out in view of the harvest, but to accelerate the growth of the plant (which at the moment has reached 2.5 m), and to allow an ideal fortification of its aerial and root part," explains the entrepreneur from Francavilla Marittima (Cosenza).
Apolito shows an excellent balance between acids and sugars, medium to large sizes and a bright coloring. The Valley Gold exerts a strong influence on consumers. "A few days after the last releases, operators keep asking me for more supplies, but the volumes have been very small, although they have allowed me to test the market and have good expectations for the next season. The royalties are not so high, and, in any case, they are repayable within four to five years after transplanting, making cultivation even more attractive. In this way, you enter a protected circuit, and the product does not inflate."
For more information:
Agronomo Vito Vitelli
+39 3392511629
[email protected]
vitovitelli.blogspot.com