With 8 years of experience in yellow kiwi production, particularly in Italy, Peruzzo Group, headed by Tony Saglietto, wants to develop its late variety SunLife (hy01). To achieve this goal, the company is banking on a turnkey formula for the growers who want to get started.
SunLife: a yellow kiwi in the late niche
Through the Okiwi club (chaired by Tony Saglietto), which already has 3 varieties of yellow kiwis and 1 variety of red kiwis (Rossy®, produced in Provence), Peruzzo Group aims to develop its production of SunLife yellow kiwis. Fifty hectares have already been planted, including 12 in France and 20 in Italy. The long-term goal is to rival the New Zealand giant, already well-established in the yellow segment. In the meantime, the group plans to expand to 1,500 hectares across Europe over the next 10 years. The company decided to concentrate on the SunLife variety, primarily because of its late-ripening position. "SunLife kiwis are available at a time when supply is limited, until June in normal cold weather, in other words until Chile arrives on the market," explains Tony Saglietto. Other advantages include "its yield, at 40 to 60 tons per hectare minimum (in large sizes), and its high sugar content, between 15 and 18 degrees Brix."
Production of SunLife yellow kiwis in Europe is shared between Peruzzo Group for France and Italy, Rey for Spain, and Greenyard for Italy and Greece. Across the Atlantic, it's Dole for South America and Family Tree Farms for the USA.
Yellow kiwis under photovoltaic shades
The first SunLife yellow kiwis were planted in Beaucaire in the Gard department. The group chose this department, "which has little reputation for kiwi production because we were looking for an area not affected by PSA [the Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae bacterium responsible for bacterial canker of kiwis]." From next year, production will extend to the Lot-et-Garonne region. And to speed up the development of its orchards over the next two years, Peruzzo is banking on a "turnkey" formula. "All our SunLife production in the department is under photovoltaic shade, which means we can offer growers a turnkey concept. They do not have to make any major initial investments, as they do not have to pay for the structure, the plants, or the irrigation. We provide the specifications and a cultivation manual, as well as in-house technical support, and external support if necessary. This concept will enable production to develop more rapidly, but above all, it will enable growers to cultivate a profitable product." This is a viable alternative, according to Tony Saglietto, "especially for wine grape, apricot, and apple growers, who are experiencing a number of difficulties. Today we are looking for growers who want to diversify their production at a lower cost." According to the director, yellow kiwis remain a promising segment. "It is a market that has not yet reached maturity, but it is still growing, and it is bound to overtake green kiwis."
For more information:
Peruzzo Group
661 Av. de la Durance,
13160 Châteaurenard
Sylvain Colleville (sales director)
Phone: +33(0)6 86 53 06 89
s.colleville@peruzzo-group.com
peruzzo-group.com