The 2018 asparagus season ended with over 62,500 kg of produce. Those sold under Marchio di Qualità Alto Adige come from the Terlano area. They are harvested by hand every day and reach refrigerated units in under two hours. This year, harvesting started in April and ended in May.
"We didn't manage to meet the high demand at the start of the season. We started with 600 kg a day, which did not meet the Easter needs. The low temperatures delayed ripening, however the warm sunny weather in April made it possible to end the season without further glitches," explains Alexander Höller, Cantina di Terlano asparagus section manager.
Marchio di Qualità Alto Adige asparagus, known as Margarete, are grown on approximately 10 hectares by a cooperative gathering 16 producers in Terlano. The soil is sandy and rich in humus, so it warms quickly guaranteeing regular growth.
In addition, growers regulate the temperature using covering sheets, maintaining quality high. Weekly meetings, training sessions and consultations aim at the constant improvement of cultivating techniques.