Candonga strawberries, a famous variety selection created from the Spanish Planasa, has found its ideal habitat in the Metapontino area (Basilicata). It represents 90% of the total production of the region which, thanks to its 540 hectares, is the third strawberry producer of the country after Campania (890 ha) and Veneto (616 ha).
The strawberry season is in full swing in Policoro's Suriano & Casalnuovo commercial farm. As Carmela Suriano, manager of the company together with her brother Rocco, explain, "we've been on the market since the end of January 2013 and we will be here until May. In June, the land will be completely re-worked and some of it will be used for watermelon production."
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Carmela Suriano in one of the strawberry tunnels.
The company cultivates 30 hectares of strawberries in tunnels, 17 of which they own, the rest is rented. Harvested volumes hover around 1,500 tons. "We aim at excellency, not quantity. For example, we only use fresh plants that haven't been refrigerated and we use cultivation techniques that maintain the balance between the vegetative and productive parts, so that plants do not grow excessively and strawberries can receive the right amount of sunlight. On average, each plant produces 600-700 grams of strawberries."
"The product is uniform, shiny, compact and with an excellent colour, and waste percentage is low. But the true experience is tasting Candonga strawberries, for they are sweet and tasty even if eaten plain. It doesn't come as a surprise that demand is always high and we are able to make a profit!"
Harvesting is done by specialised workers who pack the produce in 500 gram trays directly on field to avoid further handling. Harvesting is usually done every 3-4 days so that only the ripe strawberries are picked.
"The professionalism of personnel is one of the main elements of a high quality product. Some of our workers have been with us for 15 years and can transmit their knowledge to others." Harvesting personnel can reach 150 people at peak times.
The irrigation of strawberries, which need a lot of water, is carried out with the drip technique, dosing the nutrients dissolved in the liquid (fertigation) and measuring the water pH-value.
"Candonga is actually a very rustic variety highly resistant to environmental stress and, therefore, it contributes to sustainable agronomic techniques thanks to the limited need of phytoiatric interventions."
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Carmela Suriano is also the general director of Planitalia, the Italian branch of Planasa, European leader in the research and production of strawberry, small fruits, peaches, nectarines and plum varieties.
Contacts:
Carmela Suriano
Azienda agricola Suriano & Casalnuovo
Tel: +39 0835 902132
Fax: +39 0835 902133
Email: [email protected]
