The Sicilian raspberry campaign was extended by over one month this year, leading to great satisfaction for producers. FreshPlaza talked about it with Salvatore Azzara, a berry producer from Chiaramonte Gulfi (RG).
Salvatore Azzara in an archive photo
"Harvesting operations started to pick up in early January and continued practically without interruption, with the exception of 15 days in March when production slowed down due to the fact that some remontant varieties produce lower quantities between the first and second blossoming. The main variety is Shani and is ideal for our hilly area. The Adelita variety is also grown in the Ragusa province, which is most suitable for crops near the sea."
"Except for a few short-lived episodes with mold in May due to the rainy and humid weather, there have been no problems. We intervened naturally with antagonist mushrooms, without employing synthetic technical means. I would like to point out that our productions, although soilless, could actually be practically organic!"
"The commercial season was rather pleasing, as we reached quotations of €12-13/kg. Yields were in line with the plans made with our partners and they have yet to reach their full potential. These prices lasted until April, when they dropped to €7-8/kg and they now hover around €6-7/kg. Prices have not dropped further so far also probably due to the lack of produce from northern Italy, which has been delayed by the weather. What is more, the Sicilian season will last one month longer than usual, ending in late July or maybe even after then. Production in northern Italy (Trentino Alto Adige, Emilia Romagna, Piedmont, Lombardy and the Veneto) will soon have do deal with competition from abroad."
"European produce from Serbia and Poland in fact also becomes available in the summer, and is grown mostly in open fields. These productions compete with those from northern Italy when it comes to the fresh produce market, but they are also destined to the frozen produce and processing industries in general."