Harvesting lettuce grown on floating system starts

The hydroponically grown salad harvest of 'La Standiana' in Ravenna, owner of the Ninfa brand, is about to start. There are 13 hectares of tubs with water and floating panels in which nickel-free salad is grown using a highly sustainable technique (floating system).

"We have a delay of a few days due to the drop in temperatures of the past few weeks. The weather is slowing down almost all production, so there is no surplus on the markets at the moment. We grow different types of lettuce: cappuccina, romaine, gentilina, green and red oakleaf, and canasta. In addition, this year, we have also started carrying out feasibility tests on fennel and celery," comments Gianluca Rossi, the owner of Ninfa.

There are numerous advantages to employing the floatyng system: reduced water consumption, reduced use of fertilisers and pesticides, and full protection thanks to the very tightly-woven shading nets, which prevent the greenhouse effect and exaggerated rises in temperatures in the middle of summer. In addition, the nets protect the heads from weather events, giving security of supply.

"As soon as the lettuce from a tub is harvested, it is immediately replaced by a new cycle, which allows us to have constant quantities of product available until 15 December. Our system saves over 70% of water and minimises the number of treatments due to the very low incidence of fungal diseases and pests."

At the Valle Standiana company, which owns the Ninfa brand, the cultivated hectares are divided into 132 tanks.

"We can supply our lettuce with different packaging solutions to meet different customer needs."

For more information:
Rossi Ortofrutta s.r.l.
Via San Martino in Riparotta 14
47922 Viserba (Rimini)
info@insalataninfa.it
www.insalataninfa.it