"The lack of salad during the summer period, especially between mid-August and mid-September, should no longer be a problem for salads such as sugarloaf chicory and endive," explains Roberta Stroppiana (in the photo below) from Agrocompany.
According to Franco Stroppiana, legal representative and president of Agrocompany, all types of lettuce will be available once again from October 10th thanks to the drop in temperatures.
The problems started in August as it was too hot and July transplants did not start producing. Then there was a lack of plants available as demand was higher than expected.
"We work with school canteens and September was hard because the product lacked all over Europe."
"There will be some problems for celery too, as the excessive heat scorched the heart of the plants. Generally celery never posed a problem, but this year things will be hard, as it is not a product like salad with different productive cycles - it is not possible to make another transplant."
"There will be some problems for celery too, as the excessive heat scorched the heart of the plants. Generally celery never posed a problem, but this year things will be hard, as it is not a product like salad with different productive cycles - it is not possible to make another transplant."
Prices are expected to rise for all fruit and vegetable products, as the scarce blossoming affected fruit production and summer heat affected vegetable growth,
"It will not be like last year - not only will we have higher prices, but we will also have lower production costs (harvesting, storing, first processing, etc.), so producers will be able to make more money."
"In 2014, the average production per hectare was above average, but this year it was below average so there is a huge gap between the two years - both 2014 and 2015 have been abnormal years."
GlobalGAP certification even for small producers
The Stroppiana-Agrocompany group is implementing the integrated control model with all its producers, so Società Cooperativa Agricola delle Alpi (which supplies Stroppiana Ortofrutticoli with local produce) is gathering GlobalGAP-certified producers.
This way, it is possible to help smaller companies get certified, as they would not be able to cover the costs otherwise. The certification will standardise local products through a precise production, labelling and packaging system.
All the documents are prepared directly by Stroppiana-Agrocomany. This will also make it possible to check suppliers and better promote produce from Piedmont.
Roberta Stroppiana
Stroppiana Ortofrutticoli SpA e Agrocompany
Via Padana Inferiore, 121 - - S.S.10
10023 Chieri (TO )
Tel.: +39 011 9422558
Fax +39 011 9412073
Email: agrocompany@agrocompany.it
Web: www.agrocompany.it
Email: agrocompany@agrocompany.it
Author: Emanuela Fontana
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