Watermelons from the "Dolce Passione" consortium, which was set up in 2023 and now gathers five partners, usually become available in early May. Four of the partners, i.e. Alma Seges, Cico-Mazzoni, Lorenzini Naturamica and Ortofrutta Castello, are involved with the production and commercialization of the fruits while the fifth, Lamboseeds, produces the seed of the Giotto variety that originated the consortium.
Cico-Mazzoni Srl became a partner in 2024 with the objective of widening commercialization to the reference markets.
To tackle this commercial challenge, the group planned production so as to cover the period between the first week of May and the end of September. Dolce Passione watermelons will therefore be available to Italian and foreign consumers for a period of over 5 months.
"The Giotto cultivar has a thin black rind. Our watermelons are part of the midi segment (3-6 kg) and boast a deep red crunchy flesh with a high sugar content and excellent shelf-life," explains Lambo Seeds researcher Sandro Colombi.
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Production underway in Sicily
This project is the fruit of a genetic improvement activity that features diversified cultivation techniques (greenhouse, polytunnels, open fields and again greenhouse) that guarantee an extensive commercialization period. The first fruits come from greenhouse crops in Sicily. It will then be the turn of Puglia, Campania, Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Lombardy.
The consortium will attend Macfrut at Rimini n Hall B4, Stand 003. "At Macfrut, sales managers and agronomists from Alma Seges, Cico-Mazzoni Srl, Lorenzini Naturamica, Ortifrutta Castello and Lamboseeds will meet the buyers, journalists and visitors interested in this new product," explains consortium director Luciano Trentini.
The members of the consortium: left to right Roberto Castello, Carmine Alfano, Matteo Mazzoni, Stefano Rossi, Luciano Trentini (the representative from Lambo Seeds is missing)
"In particular, on Thursday May 9th at 11.30, the group will present its initiatives for the foreign market, sharing objectives and activities. The event is open to the press, buyers, sales managers and operators and will be moderated by Il Sole 24 Ore journalist Silvia Marzialetti" concludes Trentini.
For further information
Consorzio Dolce Passione
+39 0425 958750
[email protected]