Asparagus harvesting has been delayed by the snow that fell last week and the rain between Saturday and Monday morning with very low temperatures. We're talking about a ten-day delay compared to last year, when the campaign was also late, and therefore a one-month delay compared to a normal year.
We started harvesting operations on March 28th 2018 but hope things will pick up when the temperatures increase, as the soil is still cold and wet," explains Giovanni Pasquariello, owner of Azienda Agricola Pasquariello Giovanni in Carapelle (FG).
"Unfortunately, the produce has not been available for Easter. Demand was lively but supplies were limited. The first batches have become available this week, with prices reaching €6-7/kg."
"However, if the usual daily yield per hectare is 80 kg, we are currently only harvesting around 10 kg and quotations are not high enough to compensate for it. The Asparagus is of good quality and healthy as the low temperatures impede the development of mould or diseases. The only problem is that the produce takes one week to grow instead of the usual 24 hours."
Spain is late too and produce from other Italian regions will soon become available as well. "It will all depend on the weather, though."
"Real consumption will start to be monitored this week, so we'll have a true market value. Interest seems to be high at the moment, so demand will be lively and our asparagus will do well also on the European market."
Pasquariello exports 70% of its production, while the remaining 30% is destined to the domestic market.
Giovanni will commercialise asparagus through the Linea24 programme, which guarantees that the produce is harvested, processed and delivered within 24 hours and Italy and 48 hours in Europe. This is only guaranteed for wholesale markets (Brescia, Milan, Bergamo, Turin and Florence) and street vendors.
News
In order to improve processing operations, Pasquariello has introduced the new Neubauer grader. "The process used to be manual, but it will become automatic as of this week."
Pasquariello exports 70% of its production, while the remaining 30% is destined to the domestic market.
Giovanni will commercialise asparagus through the Linea24 programme, which guarantees that the produce is harvested, processed and delivered within 24 hours and Italy and 48 hours in Europe. This is only guaranteed for wholesale markets (Brescia, Milan, Bergamo, Turin and Florence) and street vendors.
News
In order to improve processing operations, Pasquariello has introduced the new Neubauer grader. "The process used to be manual, but it will become automatic as of this week."
Contacts:
Giovanni Pasquariello
Cell.: +39 328 9126249
Azienda Agricola Pasquariello Giovanni
C.da trionfo 1
71041 Carapelle (FG)
Email: agricolapasquariello@alice.it
Web: www.agricolapasquariello.it