"Up until a fortnight or so ago, the 2024 campaign for chestnuts and marroni in Piedmont was excellent in terms of quality, thanks to the favourable weather conditions. Then came the torrential rains and some damage to the crop: in the last week we have had a slight drop in quality. In terms of yield, we have seen a 30% reduction in production this year due to the summer rains during the flowering period of the chestnut trees. The campaign started at the end of August and the first quantities were very small. The overall size of this year's harvest is in line with expectations. The season started 25 days late and will soon end 10 to 15 days earlier."
Luca Castellino, the second generation of the F.lli Castellino family from Villanova Mondovì in the province of Cuneo. Located at the foot of the Maritime Alps, the company was founded in 1986 by brothers Eugenio and Valter Castellino and is one of the most active companies in the fresh and processed chestnut and marroni sector. Over the years, the company has developed processing and conservation techniques that allow it to obtain top quality products that are sold both on the national and international markets.
Since last year, F.lli Castellino has also been part of the Castagna Cuneo PGI Consortium and is a supporter of its activities.
"All chestnuts are processed within 24 hours of delivery and sterilised before being sold. The fruit undergoes a heat treatment: first a cold water bath and then a hot water bath to eliminate the 'pierced' and 'cracked' fruits, called 'foams', which are then processed by natural drying with hot air. This preserves the typical flavour of the chestnut", explains Castellino. These 'foams' are then further sorted with an electronic machine to remove internal and external decay, and we proceed to the grinding (flour) phase."
Chestnut flakes: last year's novelty
"We pushed ourselves to the limit and created a product that no one had thought of before: a breakfast cereal for chestnut lovers. Although we expected to cause a stir, the feedback was very positive. It turned out to be a product with great commercial value, easy to sell. Even abroad: for example, many companies that prepare stuffed turkeys for Thanksgiving in the UK have specifically asked us for chestnut flakes to give their product a crunchier, more autumnal taste," Castellino points out.
The crunchiness of the flakes is highly appreciated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. "As major consumers of chestnuts, orders for flakes from these countries are increasing for several reasons: the product is innovative; it is highly resistant to moisture and remains crunchy; it tastes good and is rich in nutrients. In addition, the organic version is increasing market share."
The company recently exhibited at Fruit Attraction 2024. "At the show, the response to the flakes was very positive and also opened doors for fresh and dried chestnuts. The timing was also ideal, as it is mid-season and it is much easier to offer a product that is already available."
Distribution and sales
"Our company supplies most of Europe and Latin America, and from time to time we also work with Asia (Japan, for example, for the chestnut cream). Last year we also entered Saudi Arabia through local distributors and importers, which allowed us to develop the Castagna Cuneo PGI supply chain," explains Castellino. As of next week we will have the product in a supermarket in Germany and we are in the process of marketing it in a chain in Piedmont. The packaging has a special PGI label, of which we are very proud of."
"In Germany, we also work with a company that specialises in infant nutrition. This sector is starting to focus on chestnuts because they're rich in fibre and minerals and naturally gluten-free. This last aspect is really boosting sales of fresh chestnuts and their derivatives, such as flakes," concludes Castellino.
For more information:
Fratelli Castellino Srl
Loc. Torre Bongiovanni, 1
12089 Villanova Mondovì (CN) - Italy
[email protected]
www.fratellicastellino.it