Alta Quota strawberries are cultivated on the Sila mountains, 1,250 metres above sea level. However the Ceccarelli Giulio company, who grows them, also has plans to cooperate with other producers to commercialise produce grown in the northern Italian plains.
"In Sila we grow the Albion variety, which is sweeter than other summer varieties," explains Ettore Ceccarelli, who runs the company with brothers Ettore and Massimiliano.
"We could almost say it is a counterseasonal variety because the plants are grown in greenhouses and they produce between July and October."
"This first year we should grow around 150 tonnes on 5 hectares, but it is difficult to make an estimate because we have never worked with these plants. Initially, 2 kg crates made up of eight 250 gram punnets will be sold on the main wholesale markets (Florence, Rome, Fondi, Treviso, Padua and Milan) and in a supermarket in Emilia-Romagna."
"This way, wholesalers will be able to sell Julius branded strawberries nine months a year - Candonga in the spring followed by Alta Quota."
Contacts
Ceccarelli Giulio srl
Via della Frasca, 7
47020 Longiano (FC) - Italy
Ph.: (+39) 0547 53055
Fax: (+39) 0547 59352
Email: commerciale@juliusfruit.it
Web: www.juliusfruit.it
Author: Raffaella Quadretti
Copyright: www.freshplaza.it