Pietro Bastoni
"I started when I was 17. Today I grow around 6,000 plants but, in the 1990s, I used to cultivate 45,000 plants. I can't say I was the first to focus on strawberry cultivation at a professional level in the Romagna area, but I was among the first."
Bastoni has always been oriented towards innovation and research and has cooperated with various public bodies, among which is the Crpv. When we visited his company a few days ago, we noticed a pink film. It is part of an experimental project to assess the effectiveness of a photoselective film to improve fruit quality compared to traditional white/clear films. The aim is also to verify whether the coloured film improves brix level and favours ripening.
Greenhouses with photoselective film
"I am rather nostalgic, as I believe the old varieties tasted better. We need to go back to varieties that focus on flavour and aroma, not only on weight."
Experimental mini-tunnels
The producer has been growing organic strawberries since 1991, with long rotations - strawberry, lettuce, melon and green manure to go back to strawberries after 4 years. Green manure is made up of barley, vetch and broad beans. Only organic matter is used and irrigation volumes are low but constant. Another secret is not to remove old leaves before March.
Broad beans, barley and vetch for green manure
He has never carried out fumigation. Greenhouses are low with sides that can be opened. They are closed very late in the evening and opened early in the morning, so as not to let plants ripen too early. The land is surrounded by a hedge to improve biodiversity.
"Thanks to all of this, I do not carry out treatments. I know many won't believe that, but it's true. I truly believe in organic produce. Those who do it only because they believe they will make more money start off with the wrong foot. You need to believe in organic produce, it's a state of mind."
Hedge for biodiversity
This year, Bastoni is growing the Clery and Nandi varieties. "I believe growing techniques are far more important than variety to obtain a high-quality product. Plants are both in double and single rows. In the case of double rows, there is a double hose to irrigate each plant with the maximum precision."
Yields are not high, as each plant produces 500-650 grams on average. "Quality is inversely proportional to quantity."
Temperature must be monitored constantly
"When I started implementing organic cultivation techniques, my colleagues used to make fun of me. They didn't understand that, even though I produced lower quantities, I didn't spend money on fertilisation and traditional treatments. Too often producers don't pay enough attention to how they spend their money."