"The market is rather calm at the moment, as there is not much demand. Prices are higher than usual, partly because there is not much product. November is generally somewhat of an abnormal month," reports Andrea Pignato, sales manager of Fellini Patrizio from Gambettola (Forlì-Cesena).
Celery hearts
Fellini specialises in celery, a product grown directly on its own farm for seven months while, in the remaining five months, the produce arrives from farmers in southern Italy. "Customers have a wide variety of needs when it comes to celery, and we are able to satisfy them all. We have various trays of celery hearts, or cut celery in 500 or 600 gram packs, just to give some examples. Plus there is the loose produce: in short, we can satisfy all kinds of requests, 12 months a year and with high quality productions."
Andrea Pignato, sales manager at Fellini Patrizio
As for the market in general, Pignato says that, "after two months characterised by strong demand, the situation has now calmed down. At Fellini Patrizio, we have the advantage of having a wide range of products covering the most diverse needs of the big retail trade, both domestic and foreign. We are currently receiving very good feedback for our Crunchy salad, but fennel, celery and radicchio are typical winter items, so their demand is on the up."
A bag of Crunchy, 'the lettuce that crunches', by Fellini Patrizio
"Crunchy is the brand name of an innovative lettuce that Fellini grows in Italy, in different areas, so that it can be available all year round. It is a product that combines crunchiness and sweetness, the packaging is eye-catching and it is sold at the guaranteed minimum weight of 300 grams per pack."
There is plenty of fennel available
The package, which contains two heads, also features two recipes and a QR code with further suggestions for use. "Should you want to identify it, it could be considered a mix between a Romana and an Iceberg. The leaves are spoon-shaped and lend themselves to all kinds of pairings. The whole leaves can be used as finger food 'trays', otherwise it can be cut to make a normal salad. It has a sweet taste, and is also good without dressing."
Khale
"Demand for fennel is on the up at the moment. After ending the volumes from Romagna, the product now comes from our farmers in Apulia. The production is of excellent quality, both in terms of size, colour and crunchiness."
Puntarelle complete the range
Radicchio has benefited of the recent drop in temperatures, in terms of both demand (because consumption naturally increases in winter) and thanks to the colour and flavour of the product itself.
The harvesting of oblong radicchio is in full swing
"We also have brassicas available, including the khale we produce directly, both in the open fields and, from the next few weeks, in greenhouses," concludes Pignato.
For more information:
FelliniPatrizio S.r.L.
Via G. Pascoli, 875
47035 Gambettola (FC) - Italy
+39 0547 659 777
[email protected]
www.fellinipatrizio.it