In the fist few days of April 2013, Agricola Don Camillo started the melon campaign in Sicily, which involved 180 hectares, for an expected production of 440 MT.
"So far, the quality has been good. We have increased production volumes since 2013, and therefore processing areas have also increased. In fact, we now use a 5,000 m² processing warehouse as opposed to the 1,000 m² one we used last year," explains chairman Ettore Cagna.
Ettore Cagna.
"Demand has been increasing year after year, so much so that our efforts have been aimed at finding new areas and new partners, on top of developing an improved organisation."
"With respect to last year, prices are higher, though still normal. This is because in 2012 prices were really low."
The main sale channel for the Agricola Don Camillo is mass retailing, even though they are looking to develop new channels such as small and foreign retailers.
"We sold 2,120 MT of melons in 2012. We were expecting an increase in 2013 however the current weather made us revise our sales prospects. Unfortunately, Northern Italy is struggling and it will be difficult to follow planting schedules both in greenhouses and in open fields. This in turn will mean that the produce won't be available in the key weeks of the season. Therefore, we can already predict that prices will rise because of the balance between supply and demand," adds Walter Benelli, sales manager. Please take all this bold out
"As of 2011, all of our produce has been stored in ozone units. As soon as the produce arrives from the fields, it is placed in ozone-enriched units. Melons are placed there also between packaging and shipping. This process enables us to destroy any natural bacterial load as well as ethylene, a gas which is normally produced by melons. The procedure also slows down ripening," explains the chairman.
"We can satisfy any packaging requirement. We have two grading lines that can process up to 28 tons of melons per hour. Once packed, the fruit is immediately placed in refrigerator units until they are shipped in refrigerated trucks. We do this so as not to interrupt the cold chain."
Don Camillo sells melons all over Italy, mostly in the North and in the Centre. As regards destinations abroad, the produce is shipped mostly to Western Europe, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. At the moment they are not affected by foreign competition.
"Our main challenge is one of offering the best quality and high-level services," concludes Ettore Cagna.
Contacts:
Agricola Don Camillo
Via Cisa, 31/A
42041 Brescello (RE)
Tel.: (+39) 0522 962202
Fax: (+39) 0522 962161
Email: info@melonedoncamillo.it
Web: www.melonedoncamillo.it
Contacts:
Agricola Don Camillo
Via Cisa, 31/A
42041 Brescello (RE)
Tel.: (+39) 0522 962202
Fax: (+39) 0522 962161
Email: info@melonedoncamillo.it
Web: www.melonedoncamillo.it