The cooperative was founded in 1972, when ten young producers started cultivating strawberries. Others joined over the years and together they improved the varieties and techniques so as to find the best strawberries to sell on the market.
Elsanta is the most popular variety with over 1,200 partners growing it. "Its fruit is very good with an excellent taste, scent, colour and shelf-life, though it has slightly lower productivity than other varieties."
In 2013, the cooperative sold around 2,200 tons of produce, 90% of which is cultivated soil-less. "The majority of it is destined to the Italian market, whereas 5% goes to Germany and Russia."
"In the last few years there has been an increase of players in the sector, in addition to foreign productions, there are new fields all over the Italian peninsula. Strawberries are now available the whole year but prices are not profitable enough."
Lorenzo Giacomelli, sales manager, says that "the market is fully ripe, even in winter there is a lot of produce available and prices are really competitive." Often, the prices are not enough to cover production costs, especially in the Trentino area, as land is fragmented, irrigation is difficult and the latest techniques have to be used to make the most of the small fields. The mission of the cooperative is to help producers make the most of their land.
Elsanta is the most popular variety with over 1,200 partners growing it. "Its fruit is very good with an excellent taste, scent, colour and shelf-life, though it has slightly lower productivity than other varieties."
In 2013, the cooperative sold around 2,200 tons of produce, 90% of which is cultivated soil-less. "The majority of it is destined to the Italian market, whereas 5% goes to Germany and Russia."
"In the last few years there has been an increase of players in the sector, in addition to foreign productions, there are new fields all over the Italian peninsula. Strawberries are now available the whole year but prices are not profitable enough."
Lorenzo Giacomelli, sales manager, says that "the market is fully ripe, even in winter there is a lot of produce available and prices are really competitive." Often, the prices are not enough to cover production costs, especially in the Trentino area, as land is fragmented, irrigation is difficult and the latest techniques have to be used to make the most of the small fields. The mission of the cooperative is to help producers make the most of their land.
"We feel demand can be stimulated only offering high-quality produce. We have been researching for a few years and crossing various types of pollen to discover new improved cultivars. We do this in cooperation with the main domestic and foreign associations (e.g. CRA/CIV)," adds Marco Giacomelli, breeder for Sant'Orsola.
Around 7,000 seedlings are analysed every year and currently some selections are being tested in Holland. We also test existing varieties to see whether they comply with Sant'Orsola's high quality standards. The strategy is therefore one of promoting a high-quality chain that must be obtained by working in close cooperation with producers, as the varieties have to comply with the needs of:
- producers, in terms of productivity
- consumers, in terms of taste and appearance
- distributors/retailers, who care about shelf-life.
In addition to all this, new types of packaging are being developed.
For further information:
Sant'Orsola Soc. Coop. Agricola
Sara Bellini
Via Lagorai 131
38057 Pergine Valsugana (TN)
Tel.: (+39) 0461 518170
Cell.: 335 5642361
Email: sara.bellini@santorsola.com
Web: www.santorsola.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CoopSantOrsola
Around 7,000 seedlings are analysed every year and currently some selections are being tested in Holland. We also test existing varieties to see whether they comply with Sant'Orsola's high quality standards. The strategy is therefore one of promoting a high-quality chain that must be obtained by working in close cooperation with producers, as the varieties have to comply with the needs of:
- producers, in terms of productivity
- consumers, in terms of taste and appearance
- distributors/retailers, who care about shelf-life.
In addition to all this, new types of packaging are being developed.
For further information:
Sant'Orsola Soc. Coop. Agricola
Sara Bellini
Via Lagorai 131
38057 Pergine Valsugana (TN)
Tel.: (+39) 0461 518170
Cell.: 335 5642361
Email: sara.bellini@santorsola.com
Web: www.santorsola.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CoopSantOrsola