The apricot market is growing and quality is excellent. Antonio Zani, sales manager at Granfrutta Zani, reports that "harvesting is around ten days early. Grades were small in May, while now things have definitely improved. We lost around 20-30% of the product due to some violent hailstorms: we manage to harvest high-quality produce only with anti-hail and anti-frost solutions."
Both the ideal apricots for premium packets and more common ones for punnets are available. "The varieties with a red blush are getting more and more popular not only because they are appealing, but also because they taste very nice. This of course if they are harvested at the right moment and managed well. It is not a product that can be improvised."
Granfrutta Zani has its own premium line with the Solatia brand. "Sales are lively in Italy and they are growing abroad. The main destination markets are Germany, Norway and Austria. Forecasts talk about a drop in availability on a European level, so we are expecting demand to grow abroad as well."
Antonio Zani.
As for peaches and nectarines, grades are rather low at the moment. "Those who pruned and thinned well and early are obtaining larger fruits and thus better prices. However, also because of the lack of labor, there are those who found it difficult to manage the thinning phase well and now have smaller fruits. The prices for large grades are satisfactory."
For more information:
OP Granfrutta Zani
Via Monte Sant'Andrea
48018 Granarolo Faentino (RA)
Tel.: +39 0546 695211
[email protected]
www.granfruttazani.it