The new clementine campaign has got off to an exciting start for the Apulian company Convif, with its 45 hectares of citrus fruits.
From Massafra (Taranto), managing director Floriano Convertino explains that "we are waiting for the second and final harvesting operation, which will take place in a few days' time, as soon as the fruit reaches the ideal veraison level. The variety we are harvesting is the Convertino clone, a genetic mutation of traditional clementines which has been very successful for sixty years, and which allows us to be available extremely early, when there are only early cultivars that are not very popular. Fruits are colourful, with a good firmness, a weight of 70-100 g and an initial Brix level of up to 14-16°."
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The entrepreneur explains that there is strong interest in buying the produce. "In addition to an important commercial agreement reached with a large organisation in the south, we are supplying several Italian fruit and vegetable markets, such as Rimini, Milan, Verona, Pagani, Pescara, Molfetta, etc. We deliver five 1000 kg pallets every other day to each of them. We are also timidly approaching the foreign market, especially in Eastern Europe, but we prefer to supply the goods internally, because the prices are satisfactory, with quotations increased by up to 0.30 €/kg compared to a year ago, for grades I to III (starting prices for the general markets vary from 1.60 to 2.00 €/kg).
However, we only have 40% of the production. "The drop in yields remains a fact, due to a dry and very hot summer. Waste percentages are reduced for those who, like us, have managed to conduct cultivation in an optimal way and provide water at critical moments. The prolonged drought has compromised fruit and tree structures in many areas and increased pest problems, especially spider mite and fruit fly."
For more information:
Convif farm
74016 Massafra (TA)
+39 330 880 689
+39 099 5936037
[email protected]