"Our problem is that the growers are not united, we don't have a single producer organization (OP) in all of Slovenia. On top of that, the cooperatives that exist have other interests and are not specialised. There are a lot of growers who carry out two roles, being both grower and entrepreneur in one, by importing cheaper vegetables and then adding the 'Made in Slovenia' label." shared Primož Zupan from Kmetija Zupan.
"However, there are positive sides as well and there are a lot of opportunities for enterprise since there are very few high tech companies who are producing tomatoes and lettuce with hydroponics or heating with geothermal water."
Slovenian vegetable growing company, Kmetija Zupan, started at the local market and by the second generation, production was increased and the company started selling to wholesalers, food services and restaurants, along with public institutions. Now in its third generation, Primož is continuing the work started by his father.
The producer grows a wide variety of vegetables such as potatoes (early and late), brassicas (cabbage; fresh and processing, savoy cabbage, red cabbage, chinese cabbage, turnip), lettuce (Batavia), endive (cichorium), pan di zucherro (sugarloaf chicory) and radicchio. Primož shared that he had noticed a recent trend from the retailers. They have started to request traditional Slovenian lettuce and are starting to purchase per head instead of per kg.
Slovenia gets most of its fresh vegetables from Italy. According to Primož, the frost which hit Spanish producers a few months ago, also hit Italy, which meant that Slovenian growers had increased demand for vegetables that had been affected. Demand for pan di zucherro (sugarloaf chicory) has especially increased. Primož said that many were using the pan di zucherro as a substitute for endive or Batavia lettuce.
"It was very cold winter without snow this year, which makes our soil soft and easy to cultivate. The dryer weather also meant that we were able to plant and seed on time. There are not many Slovenian vegetables on the market this time of year; with the exception of white cabbage, potatoes and other some other root vegetables. Small quantities of goods are coming from southern Slovenia and from areas near the Adriatic Sea. The growing areas near the Adriatic Sea have struggled this year after problems with strong wind and frost."
For more information:
Primož Zupan
Kmetija Zupan
Tel: +386.(0)4.23.24.033
Fax: +386.(0)4.23.35.930
Email: kmetija-zupan@siol.net
www.kmetija-zupan.si