The pomegranate campaign has officially started in the Sibari Plain for the Agricor Producer Organisation in Corigliano Rossano (Cosenza), a point of reference when it comes to high-quality fruit and citrus fruits with a particular focus on sustainability and respect for the environment, with organic and zero-residue productions alongside standard ones. Pomegranates, which are grown by the members of the Calabrian PO on about a hundred hectares, are marketed in Italy and abroad under the Gallo brand or under the distributor brands.
© OP Agricor
The feedback after the harvesting of the first Ako and Shani fruits is positive: they have a deep and uniform colour both inside and outside, with bright red tones that enhance their commercial appeal. "The start is exceptional from a qualitative point of view," explains Natalino Gallo, president of Op Agricor, "Our pomegranates are bright red and stand out thanks to their flavour and organoleptic characteristics. We are only at the beginning of the campaign, but we can say that we started off on the right foot."
Medium-early varieties are currently being harvested and packaged, while, for the Wonderful variety, i.e., the queen of pomegranates and the most important in terms of volume, it will be necessary to wait until the second half of October.
© OP Agricor
The only critical element concerns the size of the fruits, which is affected by the drought that has characterised the season in Calabria. "We are harvesting average sizes and the market is receptive at the moment: pomegranates are now considered a superfood by consumers, and the arrival of the first Italian product is always highly anticipated. We are pleased to be able to serve the market with a very high organoleptic quality. At the moment, we are not registering any other problems: the season will get into full swing with the arrival of the Wonderful and, if the weather is not hostile, we can make the most of the work of our producers."
Article photos provided by OP Agricor-Gallo Press Office
For more information:
www.gallofrutta.net/it