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Italy: AOP Armonia invests in Saturnia peaches

"Thanks to our 4 varieties (Ufo 2, Ufo 4, Ops and Strike), we manage to supply our clients with high-quality produce between mid-May and late August," explains Marco Eleuteri, sales manager for AOP Armonia.

Below chart in Italian

Click here to enlarge the chart.


"In order to guarantee high quality standards, we only produce varieties for which we own breeding rights. What is more, we use cultivation techniques that we have developed over 25 years and respect strict integrated control regulations."

Aop Armonia covers around 60 hectares and production for 2014 is expected to be around 1,000 tons.


Marco Eleuteri in front of the Eleuteri company, which produces exclusively Ufo and Strike Saturn peaches. 

"The huge Spanish paraguayos production definitely follows an industrial logic, but we'd rather focus on the quality of fruit, carefully choosing the varieties and cultivation techniques. Of course, if we want to achieve the best results this way, we cannot expect high productivity, as often the most exquisite varieties do not grow a lot of fruit. What we cultivate is a niche product, and that is why we decided on protection by registering the Saturnia® trademark. This way, it will be fully recognisable by all our customers"

The same is happening in Spain with OKI, with which Catalan peach producers created a system. The main POs from Lerida -which are also the main saturn peach producers - took part in the project. "Spanish institutions helped develop it - I wonder why in Italy it is so hard to do the same."


Ops fruitlets. The variety ripens in July and is cultivated exclusively by Eleuteri in Le Marche.

Saturn peaches will take part in many events over the next months. On June 6th-7th it will be the protagonist of the "Disfida marchigiana della pesca Saturnia", a challenge between chefs Moreno Cedroni and Mauro Uliassi, the only ones who managed to achieve 2 Michelin stars in Le Marche. Corrado Piccinetti, professor of Marine Biology at Bologna University and recurrent guest at Uno Mattina, Linea Verde and Linea Blu, and journalist Andrea Grignaffini, associate editor of the Spirito di Vino and Monsieur magazines, member of the exec management of the Guida Ristoranti dell'Espresso, advisor and member of the scientific committee of Alma and winner of the Grand Prix du Summellier 2013, will be the judges.

It will then be the turn of Max Alajmo, Chef Patron of "Le Calandre" restaurant in Veneto, winner of 3 Michelin stars, to create a menu based on Saturn peaches on 11th June. 



Defruiting of Ufo 4, started on 2nd May 2014. In order to obtain high-quality produce, 60% of the fruit is removed. Eleuteri owns multiplication right so Ufo 4, the most popular Saturn peach in Italy. 

"And that's not all. A blog dedicated to Saturn peaches (www.pescasaturnia.it) went online a week ago, directed by journalist Francesco Annibali. In addition, promotional activities will also take place in a number of stores all over Italy."

In the photo below, a view of the company orchards.


Contacts:
AOP Armonia
Email: info@aoparmonia.it
Web: www.aoparmonia.it