The first carrots are being harvested in the Chioggia area - while a few companies started on May 3rd 2016, Patrizio Garbin from Fratelli Garbin reported that they started later.
"We are waiting for the weekend to assess the situation from all points of view. Although the first prices are reassuring, they are not indicative of what is to come as it is still too early and there are still too little quantities on the market. We have to wait to see how the domestic and, most of all, how the foreign markets will react. Quality seems good but with carrots it is difficult to make realistic forecasts unless you have the product right in front of you."
At Garbin, carrots are processed 10 months a year. They grow them on 300 hectares and, during the months when local produce is not available, they work with growers from Sicily and the Fucino area, who follow their indications to obtain a high-quality product. This is especially important as they supply retailers.
2015 was an excellent year, but 2016 also seems to be good for what concerns the health of the crop. "There haven't been any problems so far and we didn't even have to carry out anti-fungus treatments."
But if there is one thing missing, it is a mark. "I believe the high quality of our product deserves recognition. We should work to obtain the Carota del Delta PGI mark, which would apply not only to the Chioggia area but also to southern areas such as Ferrara."
Rossano Fontan, director of the Lusia fresh produce market, reports that incoming carrots are gathered in bunches of 6-10 carrots placed in crates. "They are fresh and very tender. Growers manage to obtain such a product thanks to consolidated techniques and specific production areas such as the sandy soils along the Adige. Anyway, we will have to wait for next week to have a better idea of the quantities being handled and the prices."