"Setting was perfect thanks to the lack of rain. The opposite of what happened last year. We have between 20 and 40 hectares for each variety and we mainly cultivate Farbaly and Lady Cot."
However, things are rather different in the south. Mariano Gervasi explains that, "in the Syracuse coastal region, setting didn't go as well and there will be little produce available. It's been the same for the past three years."
Orange Rubis is the only variety that maintained a constant production. "The other varieties I grow are Big Red and Pin Cot. The coastal area is the one with the most problems while orchards on the hills seem to be doing better."
Above: before the thinning. Below: after the thinning. Tom Cot variety.
Giuliano Donati from Op GranFrutta Zani, confirms setting is good to very good in Emilia Romagna, "yet there is no overproduction. Of course, thinning must be carried out to achieve good grades and quality. Conditions are excellent in Romagna this year and, in the plain, self-fertile varieties met expectations. Thinning operations take a long time if they're not carried out with machines. I've heard about setting problems in Campania, where old cultivars performed better than the new varieties."
After many bad years, Orogel Fresco also reports abundant productions and setting was good for all varieties both in Termoli (Molise) and Policoro (Basilicata).
Andrea Grassi, technical manager for Apofruit, reports "good setting practically everywhere and almost all varieties must be thinned. I hope the season will help us maintain quality high. It's the first time we have registered a full production everywhere. Thinning must be carried out carefully because we want to have a good quality with medium-big grades. We had to thin many orchards mechanically."