Loreto Cerrato, who is part of the new generation running the company, together with cousins Angelo and Antonio, reports that "we will start on May 18th with all our main products: curly salad, endive, spinach and Iceberg lettuce."
Individually-packed Iceberg lettuce heads placed in a vacuum cooler.
"We are already working at full speed as volumes are available and demand is lively. Prices however are still rather low and the produce from Spain and Holland on the market is not helping."
Wrapping machine at work.
F.lli Cerato's Iceberg lettuce is mainly destined to wholesale markets in northern and southern Italy as well as northern Italian retailers. "We also import and export produce. We purchase carrots, cabbages and other products from Germany depending on the demand. Export prices are rather satisfactory."
In the meantime, the company has to deal with competitors: "an Iceberg lettuce crate from Spain can reach Italy at only €3! I still can't figure out how they manage to cover costs. It may be because they diversify markets a lot and reach different quotations according to the exporting country."
The company also produces radicchio
F.lli Cerrato included Iceberg lettuce in its assortment ten years ago and, over time, has invested in new technologies to provide the market with high-quality produce - in addition to a vacuum cooler (in the photo) for the quick cooling of vegetables, a wrapping machine was also introduced.
What is more, the company is also testing new natural methods to prolong product shelf-life, especially since "we don't want to use chemical treatments!"
The produce will be available until November.
Contacts:
F.lli Cerrato S.r.L.
Centro lavorazione e vendita
Via S.Valentino
84087 Sarno (SA) - Italy
Tel.: (+39) 081966525
Fax: (+39) 0815137403
Email1: f.llicerrato@virgilio.it
Email2: f.llicerrato@libero.it
Visita il nuovo sito web!: www.cerratogroup.it