In Romagna, there are various producers who sell them not only at a local level but also to nearby regions such as Umbria and Tuscany. One of them is Paolo Beleffi (in the photo) from Gambettola, who grows agretti in heated greenhouses.
"I started harvesting on 22nd February and finished on 10th April. Prices varied a lot - from €3.50/kg to €1.70. They had been very good in the past three years but I have registered a 20% drop in 2016 because our produce overlapped with that from other areas. I cannot complain, though, as quotations remained decent."
Beleffi sells its agretti on the Cesena market and also works with some wholesalers in central Italy.
In Romagna, greenhouse sowing is carried out in November and harvesting is carried out by hand between February and April. In open fields, sowing is from January onwards and harvesting continues until late May.
This year, Beleffi harvested around 10 tons of agretti. Once pulled out, they are immediately tied in bunches weighing 250-300 grams each. They are then washed and placed in crates.