The company cultivates three varieties - round (50%), long (25%) and purple (25%) aubergines. The new niche product is the Gold Green striped aubergine, which is still produced in very small quantities. 7 hectares are dedicated to this type of crop, plus there are 4 hectares of third party producers who then hand in their produce to Gold Green. All the 11 hectares are covered in greenhouses.
The company currently handles 30-32 pallets per day, 170-180 pallets per week. If we talk about industrial pallets (1x1.20 m), the net weight is about 600 kg, whereas if we talk about europallets, it depends on the destination markets, but on average it is 420-430 kg.
"The weather affected production, because we depend on temperatures. In addition, just like every year, we have to be careful about fungal diseases, which might still crop up."
The market was rather good this year. "It might have been because there were less quantities or maybe because Spain reduced its own quantities. It is possible that this caused prices to increase with respect to the previous two years, when they were too low. If quotations had remained the same, many companies in the area would have definitely closed down!".
The campaign of greenhouse aubergines is still in progress and will last until mid-July. Last year, Gold Green experimented with open field production in order to offer continuity to its clients. "Even though results were not really satisfying, we are thinking of redoing it this year as well."
As regards reference markets, Incardona explains that, "we have tried working abroad where our aubergines are appreciated, however business relationships are on a standstill at the moment. It could be because Spain still has a bigger share on the European market."
Anyway, the company's products are available on almost all the markets in Northern Italy. "We also supply various companies in Emilia-Romagna (Bologna) and we have new contacts with supermarket chains. We never stop."
The produce leaves the company already packed. "We have our own packaging for the produce destined to wholesale markets and we also work with CPR crates with some of our clients. In order not to sacrifice our company brand, we are working on a sticker that will be placed directly on aubergines, in fact, in supermarkets, 2 or 3 stickers per crate would be enough to distinguish our product!".
"Our objective is to offer a high quality product. Responses are good, but one must always consider intermediate phases. It would be different if we had direct contacts with consumers." The company faced a number of challenges in the last three years, as it had to confront with others. "Spain and the Netherlands work well and I think that some produce also comes from Tunisia during summer."
"We have to make people understand the quality of the produce we offer. We are always trying to improve and innovate. I am proud when people tell me: 'you're quite expensive, but the produce is good!'. If you want to eat high quality products you have to be prepared to pay something more for them. Though I feel sorry for consumers, as maybe one day I sell my aubergines at €1.20 only to find them in retail at €3.40. It's absurd, but it happens."
"We have to make people understand the quality of the produce we offer. We are always trying to improve and innovate. I am proud when people tell me: 'you're quite expensive, but the produce is good!'. If you want to eat high quality products you have to be prepared to pay something more for them. Though I feel sorry for consumers, as maybe one day I sell my aubergines at €1.20 only to find them in retail at €3.40. It's absurd, but it happens."
Our objective for the future is to try and cooperate with producers so that they can collaborate with Gold Green without following the daily changes in the market, aiming at stable prices and respecting all of the checks necessary for quality crops. "Our sales proceeds increase every year as well as our turnover, which increases by 20%."
Characteristics of Gold Green aubergines
"Our aubergines are really sweet, they don't taste bitter, they don't turn black on the inside and they don't absorb too much oil. A quality aubergine must be fleshy, compact and without holes inside. It should taste sweet when raw and, once cooked, it should be light and easily digestible. In addition, good quality aubergines are easy to spot in the kitchen: the better they are, the less oil they absorb."
Contacts:
Mario Incardona - Manager
Cell.: (+39) 340 8470370
Gold Green
Offices and plant
C/da Pantano
S. Croce Camerina (RG)
Registered office
Via Mario Rapisardi, 63
Vittoria (RG)
Tel.: (+39) 0932 861787
Fax: (+39) 0932 861787
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aziendagoldgreen.com
