Packaged strawberries (archive photo)
"We hope that the Phytosanitary committee which will attend the mixed-group meeting in June will be able to help mutual recognition, so that the countries applying for active principles can use the authorisation already obtained by the others."
Francesco Nicodemo (archive photo)
Cristòbal J. Picon Regidor, José Maria Pozancos, Xavier Mas, Caroline Granado, Bartolome Fernandel Esquina, Manuel Piedra Chaves, Rafael Domìnguez Guillén, Sebastian Fraile Arévalo and Jérome Frouté also attended the meeting.
In Agen, Nicodemo also talked about Italian strawberry cultivation. According to Cso data, in 2016, Italian families have spent around €14.4 to buy 4.14 kg on average. The penetration index is 81%.
Strawberry plants in Romagna (archive photo)
Total hectares have reached 3,640, i.e. 3% more than 2016. There are 144 hectares in the north-west (Piedmont), 551 ha in the north-east (Emilia Romagna and Veneto), 2.224 ha in the south (Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Sicily) and 488 ha in other regions. Between 2009 and 2017, Basilicata went from covering 14% to 24% of cultivated areas.
As regards varieties, in Basilicata, Sabrosa dropped from 81 to 76%, leaving more room for Melissa, which went from 0 to 10%. Then there are Marisol and Sabrina.
Sabrina (66%) is the most popular in Campania, followed by Melissa, Nabila and Fortuna.
Sabrina (46%) is the most popular in Calabria too, followed by Camarosa, Nabila and Marisol.
In Sicily, Florida Fortuna is the most widely cultivated followed by Camarosa.
In Emilia Romagna, Clery occupies the first place (17%) followed by Joly, Sibilla and Alba, just to mention the first four.
Eva is the main variety in Veneto.
Marisol strawberries (archive photo)
Italy sends 88% of its exports to the EU, mainly to Germany and Austria (and Switzerland, considered extra-EU). In 2016, exports increased by 6% compared to the previous year.
When talking about the future, Nicodemo explained that "there is still a lot to do for what concerns the promotion of high-quality produce. Data on sales and consumer choices revealed that we need to specialise our production. Strawberry cultivation is very important in Italy and it must be supported and promoted."
Contacts:
Francesco Nicodemo - President
Cell.: (+39) 335 7817158
Email: francesco@nicofruit.it