The Spanish Planasa S.A. and two Italian groups - Mediterraneo Group SpA and Compagnia delle Primizie - are collaborating and making investments on a project to create an Italian berry chain that can be a good competitor in retail.
The plan is to cultivate around 14 hectares on Adelita raspberries, which will be available between November and August.
Planitalia (Italian section of Planasa) owner Carmela Suriano explains that "the soft fruit category is expanding in Italy and retailers will recognise the quality of our products. It is a great occasion for the Southern growing areas, as tests were successful in Basilicata, Campania, Calabria and Sicily."
The variety will be cultivated and sold as a club variety and has excellent organoleptic qualities and a good shelf-life.
The variety will be cultivated and sold as a club variety and has excellent organoleptic qualities and a good shelf-life.
Soil-less Adelita raspberry cultivation in Basilicata
Adelita, a variety selected by Planasa group, is remontant and adapts well to the Mediterranean climates of southern Italy, so fruit can ripen starting from November.
The first transplants are carried out in late May-early July or between early July and early August for soil-less crops in polystyrene vases with coir substrates.
Non-heated greenhouses equipped with shading nets and plastic films from former stonefruit orchards (5-7 m wide, 40-45 m long and 3.5 m high) can be used, calculating a distance between rows of around 1.7 m and a distance between plants of 0.20-0.25 m for an investment of around 18,000 plants per hectare.
The fruit is sweet and slightly acidic with appealing and uniform grades. Shelf-life is excellent.
In addition, as the variety is rustic, it is resistant to fungi and mites and it is perfect for southern Italy.
The first transplants are carried out from mid May and harvesting starts in late September. Transplants can be carried out every 15 days until July for harvesting between October and December. This is made possible thanks to soil-less cultivation.
After the first harvesting, plants are clipped at 1.5 m high and remount in spring for a second harvesting in April- May. The average production is 1-1.5 kg per plant.
"There are some cultivars in southern Italy that should be replaced as no one wants them anymore. Adelita raspberries are the first step in this direction."
For further information:
Planitalia srl
Via Zara, 20
75025 Policoro (MT)
Tel.: (+39) 0835 902132
Fax: (+39) 0835 902133
Email: info@planitaliasrl.com
Web: www.planitaliasrl.com