"PGI Green Asparagus from Canino remains one of the earliest in Italy"

The harvesting of Asparago Verde di Canino IGP in the geothermal hot water crops at the farms associated with the C.O.P.A. cooperative began already in late January, with good overall volumes.

"Asparago Verde di Canino IGP remains one of the earliest in Italy," reports Sergio Marcoaldi, the cooperative's agronomist, emphasising how the land rich in hot water allows this competitive advantage. Harvesting operations are currently taking place in line with the seasonal average, including for the asparagus in open fields.

After the definitive recognition obtained last May, production and marketing got off to an enthusiastic start. "We have increased the number of registered and certified farms, which allows us to guarantee a greater availability of Protected Geographical Indication products. This year, we are restarting with several customers who are very interested in our asparagus. In contrast to the situation on a national level, which is characterised by a constant decrease in planted areas, at the cooperative, we are already setting up new asparagus crops, and we are expecting a very large area of new crops next year."

The weather conditions, however, have not always been favourable. "Harvested quantities have recently been fluctuating due to the heavy rainfall and sporadic, yet always dangerous, cold spells. Therefore, daily quantities tend to be quite low, on average."

On the commercial front, manager Giancarlo Benella reports that "the quantities harvested per hectare are currently around 15-20 kg, while, when it comes to protected crops, which are facilitated by the warmth of the hot water, they exceed 100 kg. The market, although tending to revise prices downwards, still maintains levels between €13.00 and €15.00/kg." The cooperative's reference markets remain the domestic market with the big retail chains and the European Union (France, Germany, and Scandinavian countries), despite competition from cheaper Spanish products.

Current prices reflect the limited quantities, so they are "quite high and satisfactory for farmers," reports Benella. However, a possible drop in quotations is expected with Easter approaching, due to the promotions already planned by the big retail chains. "Although good quantities are becoming available on the market, prices could remain high compared to the same period last year. We will have to wait and see," explains Benella, avoiding forecasts for the post-Easter period.

23rd Festival of Asparago Verde di Canino IGP
Giovanni Pettinari, president of the cooperative, proudly announced the 23rd Sagra dell'Asparago Verde di Canino IGP scheduled between 28 and 30 March 2025. "It is a local event that represents an opportunity to promote a product that is the cooperative's core business: we are talking about well over 300 hectares of land, around 100 farms involved, and over 1,500 tonnes of asparagus marketed."

Click here to download the event poster.

For more information:
Società Agricola C.O.P.A. soc. coop.
Via Pietro Nenni snc
01011 Canino (VT) - Italy
+39 0761 438207
info@copacanino.it
www.copacanino.it