Table top double-height strawberry systems are growing in popularity in Italy

The table top strawberry plants designed and manufactured by Combimetal Carrera are under the spotlight. The Italian company is based in Policoro, province of Matera, in the Basilicata region, and specializes in the manufacturing of greenhouse structures.

Demetrio Nicodemo, the production manager of the Nicofruit Group (pictured below), has provided his experience with the double-row systems. The Nicofruit Group, based in Italy, was one of the first customers to invest in these innovative strawberry production systems a few years ago.

"A total of three hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of strawberries on table top, two-row gutter cultivation, with a total of more than 400,000 plants planted, around 150,000 plants/hectare. In the previous season, we planted 200,000 plants on table top. This season, we are expanding the area to 7 hectares, for a total of one million seedlings planted. Our mission is to achieve further growth and to keep investing in order to offer a more sustainable product to our customers, while at the same time allowing our employees to work in a less tiring way and with a healthier approach, in an environment that is, among other things, cleaner and tidier."

"We are achieving outstanding results in volume and quality with the table top system, even though we are still in the early stages of the harvest. The seedlings were planted two months later than those traditionally planted and have a uniform pigmentation, a sugar content between 10 and 12 Brix and a weight of more than 40 grams."

Following an initial consultative approach, Combimetal Carrera, the manufacturer, designs and installs the gutters in a way that prevents them from shading the plants, thus guaranteeing homogeneous yields on each level. The client company can decide the rows of gutters (from 1 to 3).

Giusi Carrera, sales manager of the company Combimetal Carrera, explains: "Now is the best time to talk about our strawberry growers and show the results, at a time when the weather seems to be destabilizing the supply schedule, not only in Italy. We have already planned new plantings, which will be implemented starting in the summer of 2025. Those interested in visiting the table top cultivations currently in production to assess crop health and observe their development in relation to soil and climate conditions should contact us. Appointments are also available at the newly installed locations."

For more information:
Combimetal Carrera Srl
Via Lido, 3
75025 Policoro (MT) - Italy
+39 0835 973481
info@combimetalcarrera.it
combimetalcarrera.it