The new potato season in Puglia was favoured by the weather and in fact the first produce, cultivated in polytunnels, is already being sold by the Acli cooperative.
Good temperatures meant we could harvest the produce earlier than usual and, if things continue this way, open field new potatoes will be ready in mid-March.
"Sowing started in November and is still going on thanks to mild temperatures and abundant rain, which reduced the need for irrigation," explains Federico Manni.
"Quality and size are good. Demand is slightly lower than a year ago because of the general drop in consumption but Germany - our main market - is still showing quite an interest as they appreciate the organoleptic qualities of our tubers."
"The closeness of our fields to the sea and the fact that our producers are very careful when processing means our potatoes have a very high-quality," adds Manni.
"Currently the most popular packagings are 12.5 and 25 kilo jute bags and 12.5 wooden and cardboard crates, though smaller vertbags and nets are also available."
Finally, the PDO mark really crowned the path we started 15 years ago. Galatina new potatoes can now enter the élite of excellent made in Italy products.
Contacts:
Soc. Agr. Coop. ACLI - Racale
Enzo Manni
Via Provinciale Racale - Ugento km 1,1
73055 Racale (LE)
Tel./Fax: (+39) 0833 583484 - 0833 551848
Email: acliracale@tiscalinet.it
Web: www.acliracale.it