Italy: The second PGI Cuneo Red Apple campaign is starting

"We will start harvesting around mid-September and the produce should be available between October 2014 and late May 2015. It should be a good year with an increased production of around 25,000 tons," explains Alex Tallone, technician of the Sanifrutta cooperative.

Alex Tallone from Sanifrutta.

Sanifrutta gathers 150 commercial farms (250 if we also count stonefruit and kiwi ones) covering 400 ha of apple orchards in total. The PGI mark was obtained recently and their apples immediately became their flagship product.

"As we are one of the warehouses certified to process this product, we monitor everything in order to establish the degree of ripening of each single cultivar and adjust harvesting times."

Superchief red apples.

Alex Tallone stresses that "constant quality is the best asset on the market. We are trying to create systems that produce the highest standards with the minimum waste. In fact, at times like these, it is essential to supply products that meet consumers' expectations."

"We want all partners to reach the same quality standards from planting, to varietal innovation and to production techniques. In addition, we want to increase the number of companies registered with the certifying body."

Above: partner company Barale Mauro. Below: partners Maria Pia and Daniele Quaglia from Quaglia insieme with Alex Tallone.

Tallone adds that "it's harvesting time and our relationship with partners revealed that they are very committed to PGI Cuneo Red Apples. Their popularity is increasing at a local level."

Partner company Fratelli Armando.

Eraldo Barale, president of Sanifrutta, adds that "for our company, it is an occasion to cooperate with two objectives in mind: a more thorough application of the technical knowledge and specifications and making our partners more aware about our projects."

Gala apples during harvesting at San Giuseppe.

"Currently, our main markets are the Middle and Far East, India and Mediterranean Europe. We can pack the produce in 18kg trypacks, single or double-layer cells, wooden crates or thermo-sealed bags."

Apples are stocked in dynamic atmosphere units and preserved thanks to ethylene inhibitor 1-MCP (Smartfresh). They are then graded (above) and packed (below).

"At the moments, we are working on new trade outlets," concludes Tallone.

Contacts:
Alex Tallone
Sanifrutta soc. agr. coop.
Via Dei Falchi, 13
12024 Costigliole Saluzzo (CN)
Tel.: (+39) 0175 230061
Fax: (+39) 0175 239440
Cell.: (+39) 338 5859692
Email1: sanifrutta@sanifrutta.com
Email2: a.tallone@sanifrutta.com
Web: www.sanifrutta.com