Although potato prices are up significantly from a year ago, the new season seems to be off to a good start.
"Demand is already outstripping supply, even though we started harvesting in the first ten days of October, about a month late. The operators are asking us for a significant amount of the product. It's really true that the potato is the most popular vegetable on the tables of the Italians, mainly thanks to the versatility of its uses. We are seeing prices going up by up to 40%", explains Giancarlo Di Pasquale of the Abruzzo farm of the same name, which grows four varieties of tubers on 750 mslm and sells them in five different sizes (from 2.5 to 25 kg) to Italian wholesalers and restaurateurs.
This year's abnormal weather has already caused a number of problems in the planting phase, jeopardizing the harvest. "Normally, planting takes place from April to mid-May, but the spring rains, which were abundant and continuous, delayed those operations and thus the entire campaign. This resulted in a drop in yield of more than 35-40 percent and a higher percentage of smaller sizes, suitable for 2.5 and 4 kg bags."
Variety Agria
However, the entrepreneur explains that despite the excellent debut and the willingness of buyers to pay more for the product, it would be better not to go too far with the price increases. The risk would be to favor foreign production, which is already on the rise due to the collapse of Italian production.
For more information:
Azienda agricola Di Pasquale
Via Galeone, 28
67051 Avezzano (AQ)
+39 3382034414 - 3333645549
[email protected]
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