In Italy, scallion are mainly cultivated in Campania, Veneto and Calabria. In particular, "Pdo Nocerino" scallions are cultivated in 21 municipalities in Campania on almost 1,400 hectares. They are different from the other varieties because they have a cylindrical bulb with a slight swelling at the base of the leaves, grades between 2-4 cm, a juicy and sweet flesh and deep green leaves. Thanks to the continuous production cycles, they manage to produce around 50,000 tons of fresh produce.
The names of the local varieties cultivated are taken from the season in which they are harvested (Precoce la Regina, Precoce Meraviglia, Marzatica fredda, Marzatica calda, San Michele, Giugnese) or from their origin: Nocera, Nocerese, Bianca di Castellammare.
Biagio Sorrentino (in the photo above), owner of Campania Export, explained that "the particular taste of our scallions depends on the soil in which they are cultivated, as it is volcanic and highly fertile, so it produces an excellent product, as is the case with San Marzano Pdo tomatoes."
Pdo Nocerino Scallions are cultivated and sold 12 months a year, as the mild weather and fertile soil enables growers to sow or transplant between July and April. Last year, for example, there were problems only in November due to flooding.
Demand
"Thanks to the tenderness of the bulb and the sweetness of the flesh, they are very appreciated in Eastern and Northern Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden in particular), where they can achieve good prices, especially since there is no foreign competition until spring. Then the German produce arrives."
Campania Export ships abroad 90-95% of its produce, which of course holds the GlobalGAP certification.
Once harvested - either by hand or with mechanical means in case of grades between 1 and 5 cm - the produce is selected, washed, peeled (the outer layers are removed), the roots and leaves are trimmed and it is packaged. This way, it can be classified as first category.
It is a product with great potential to improve the economy of the area.
Contacts
Campania Export srl
Biagio Sorrentino
Via Tuoro, 80
84010 San Valentino Torio (SA)
Tel.: (+39) 081 5185398
Fax: (+39) 081 5185858
Email: campaniaexport@virgilio.it